'Beacon' communities must show HIT bona fides

Communities that vie for grants to become health IT "beacons" under a federal program to set up models of meaningful health information usage must show that a good portion of their local providers already embrace e-heath records and electronic health information sharing. The Obama administration earlier this month said it would offer15 communities grants of up to $20 million to support connectivity and the meaningful use of health IT, such as clinical decision support. The communities would act as business models to inspire other groups to be productive users of the technology. To become a "beacon" community, applicants must have an established track record of using health IT to improve health care in at least one category -- cost efficiency, quality of care or population health, said Dr. Farzad Mostashari, senior advisor to the Office of the National Coordinator for health IT during a Dec. 14 teleconference. ONC said it would like the program to get on a fast track. "We want to see what is possible in a relatively short time period, within 30 months," he said in giving more details of the grants, applications for which are due Feb. 1.