10 states receive over $100M in federal funds to boost care through CHIP

Ten states are being awarded over $100 million in federal grant funds that will be used on healthcare IT to improve care quality and delivery systems for children enrolled in Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

Officials said two states will use the money to develop a new pediatric electronic health record format and seven states will use the funds for implementing health information technology strategies.

 "We all have a stake in the health of our nation's children," said Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. "Exploring new technologies and initiatives will help ensure our kids get the high quality care they need and deserve."

The grants, which will be awarded over a five year period, were funded by the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 (CHIPRA).

 Officials said the grants are totally federally funded and are designed to help establish a national quality system for children's healthcare through Medicaid and CHIP.

"These grants will test the most current theories of how to improve the quality of care delivered to children," said Cindy Mann, director of the Center for Medicaid and State Operations within CMS.  "These awards will help create the foundation for a more responsive and effective national system of high quality health care for children."

Awardees represent both single-state projects and multi-state collaborations.  Grantees working in multi-state partnerships will share award funds with those partners with funding ultimately distributed among 18 states in total.