Dive Brief:
- Arkansas rural and critical access hospitals are about to get a cash infusion which will help them connect their EMRs to the state's HIE, the State Health Alliance for Records Exchange.
- The state's SHARE Connectivity Program will spend $195,000 to help rural hospitals across 18 Arkansas counties.
- Hospitals will receive up to $10,000 to help them connect to the HIE, which should pay some or all of the $6,000 to $15,000 cost of doing so.
Dive Insight:
If spending a scant $195,000 -- all told -- can dramatically boost participation in the state HIE, it's a wise investment. After all, HIEs are only as good as the number of participants that come on board. Let's hope other states reach out to cash-strapped rural and critical access hospitals and bring them on board. Over time, such programs are likely to pay big dividends.