CMS sets funding rules for Medicaid Health IT projects

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has published its final guidance to state Medicaid directors on what they can expect from the federal government in terms of funding support for their health IT activities, clearing the way for them to start-up programs for the adoption and meaningful use of electronic health records.

In a letter published Aug. 17, CMS laid out three minimum requirements that states have to meet in order to qualify for a 90 percent federal financial participation (FFP) match for any state administrative expenses tied to EHR activities. States are already guaranteed a 100 percent FFP for incentive payments to eligible Medicaid providers to adopt and meaningfully use EHRs under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.