Health Care Stimulus Funding Process Picking Up Speed

[commentary] Since the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was signed in February, the federal government has been moving relatively rapidly to get balls rolling on multiple fronts. In health care, the process is picking up speed in several areas as a result of recent efforts, including: 1) The release of the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT implementation plan for health IT; 2) The release of CMS' implementation plan (including guidance on Medicare and Medicaid electronic health record incentive payments); 3) The development of a definition of "meaningful use" as it pertains to stimulus payments; and 4) Broadband access.