Advance Interoperable Health Information Technology Services to Support Health Information Exchange

The Advance Interoperable Health IT Services to Support Health Information Exchange Cooperative Agreement Program will leverage investments and lessons learned from the previous State Health Information Exchange Cooperative Agreement Program (State HIE Program) to rapidly build capacity for the interoperable exchange of health information across the entire care continuum both within and across states while moving toward nationwide interoperability. Grantees will seek to improve care coordination and enhance communication among both clinical and non-clinical care providers across the entire care continuum by: 1) Expanding the adoption of health information exchange technology tools, services, and policies that enable interoperable exchange; 2) Facilitating and enabling send, receive, find, and use capabilities to access health information from external sources and incorporate into care provider workflows; 3) Increase integration of health information in interoperable health IT to support care processes and decision making.

Either a State, Territory, or State Designated Entity was eligible to apply.

State governments and Qualified State-Designated Entities were eligible to apply. The program required a letter from the Governor establishing the Qualified State Designated Entity, where applicable. Documentation was to be provided in accordance with the requirements of 2 CFR 200.

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) uses funds remaining from the State HIE Program to increase the adoption and use of interoperable health IT tools and services to support the interoperable exchange of health information and enable send, receive, find, and use capabilities in a manner that is appropriate, secure, timely, and reliable for both senders and receivers. This FOA was a full and open competition with twelve (12) awards being made in the form of cooperative agreements to states and/or state designated entities (SDE) to continue under the same intent as the original State HIE Program of enabling nationwide health information exchange across the care continuum and improving care coordination and transitions of care. This FOA will allow grantees to leverage the existing operational HIE infrastructure to expand the use of interoperable exchange tools and services to improve transitions of care and care coordination, thus furthering federal, state, and/or community health reform efforts. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available in ARRA may be used by a state or local government, or any private entity, for any casino or other gambling establishment, aquarium, zoo, golf course, or swimming pool. (ARRA Sec. 1604).

Awards are expected to be for a two (2) year period of performance.

Applications were solicited by a program announcement. The availability of this announcement was broadly published, including by posting on www.grants.gov.

Specific, detailed criteria for determining merit of applications was made available in the funding opportunity guidance document(s) for this program. In general, all applicants were required to demonstrate capability to achieve the goals, purposes, and objectives of the program consistent with applicable statutory provisions.

Following objective review of applications, those applicants whose applications have been selected by the Secretary of HHS (or designee) for funding are to receive a Notice of Award signed by an HHS Grants Management Officer. The Notice of Award, which is sent to the applicant's Authorized Organizational Representative, is the only official notification of award. Unsuccessful applicants will be advised by letter.