The centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced recently that California’s Medicaid program will receive federal matching funds for state planning activities necessary to implement the electronic health records incentive program established by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. 

California will receive approximately $2.48 million in federal matching funds.

Electronic health records make it easier for the many providers who may be treating a Medicaid patient to coordinate care. Additionally, the records make it easier for patients to access the information they need to make decisions about their healthcare.

California will use its federal matching funds for planning activities that include conducting a comprehensive analysis to determine the status of health information technology activities in the state. The state will gather information on issues such as existing barriers to its use of electronic records, provider eligibility for incentive payments and the creation of a state Medicaid health information technology.

For more information, go to www.cms.hhs.gov/Recovery.