The states and territories will form the Health Information Security and Privacy Collaboration (HISPC), a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' strategy whose aim is to allow electronic health records to be shared among health care professionals nationwide.
"The current fragmented health care system is broken and unsustainable, and governors recognize that health information technology offers the promise for improving the system," said NGA Chairman Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee. "The eventual use of health information technology will go a long way in making the system more efficient and effective for all."
Awards for the 34 subcontracts range from $250,000 to $350,000 and will require each state to bring together a broad range of stakeholders from their respective regions to develop consensus-based solutions to the barriers to health information exchange.
"The information learned from the state-led projects will be critical to developing an interoperable national health information network," said NGA Center Chair and Association Vice Chair Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano. "A nationwide network will allow consumers to make informed choices by providing them secure access to their health care information."