$100 Million in Grants Given to States to Improve Child Care

Kathleen Sebelius (Health and Human Services Secretary), announced today 10 states would be given $100 million in federal grant funds to  improve health care quality and delivery systems for children enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program).



Per the HHS.gov web site Kathleen is quoted as saying “We all have a stake in the health of our nation’s children,” said Sebelius. “Exploring new technologies and initiatives will help ensure our kids get the high quality care they need and deserve.”

The money will be given out over a 5-year period to the states with the purpose of testing and implementing "the most current theroies" to improve the quality and delivery of heath care to children across the country.  Eight of the 10 grantees will test new child health quality measures, and seven of the ten states will implement health information technology (HIT) strategies for pediatrics.  Two states are specifically planning to develop a new pediatric electronic health record format. Some of the states are receiving solo grants (for just their state), but most are working in conjunction with other states and will share the funds among the group of states, bringing the total number of states invovled to 18.

For the full press release: http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2010pres/02/20100222a.html

For more information about CHIP: http://www.insurekidsnow.gov/