Cincinnati’s HealthBridge gets $13.8 million in federal funds

Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius announced yesterday that Greater Cincinnati HealthBridge will receive $13.8 million over three years to help implement health information technology in the organization’s 16-county service area (Source: “Sebelius announces $13.8M for HealthBridge,” Cincinnati Business Journal, Sept. 2, 2010).

The money comes from the Beacon Community Program, which was created as part of last year’s economic stimulus legislation.

“The Beacon program uses health information technology tools to link health providers and other community-wide resources in new and innovative ways,” Secretary Sebelius said, according to a HealthBridge press release.  “Under the Beacon program, communities first identify leading health problems that are unique to their community, develop innovative, health IT-related strategies, and work together through community collaborations to implement their strategies and track their performance.”