Incentive Payments for Adoption and Use of Certified EHR Technology
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) projects that approximately $18 billion will be paid in incentive payments nationwide from 2011-2012 through the Recovery Act’s Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Records (EHR) Incentive Programs. Healthcare professionals and hospitals who adopt and use certified EHR technology will be eligible to receive these funds.
The Office of National Coordinator for Health IT has set up Regional Extension Centers across the country to help providers choose and adopt the certified EHR best suited for their practices. These Regional Extension Centers have also received Recovery Act awards.
Read the full story about the effects of the EHR incentive funds on a small business in Arkansas by visiting the Health and Human Services website. You can also view the list of certified EHR products and their vendors and developers here.
Photo of the Week – New Child Development Center
Photo Contributed to the Recovery.gov Flickr Group by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Norfolk District
To honor the Month of the Military Child, the U.S. Army broke ground for a new $9.6 million child development center (CDC) April 16, 2010 at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia. The 26,000 square-foot CDC facility, using American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, or ARRA funding, is designed to accommodate 232 children, ages six weeks to five-years-old.
To see more photos of Recovery projects or add your own photos, visit the Recovery.gov Flickr Group.
Project Spotlight – U.S. Port of Entry at Forest City, Maine
Recipient: Overland Corporation
Award Amount: $5,619,983
The recipient reported that these Recovery funds would be used for:
- Design and construction of the new U.S. Port of Entry at Forest City, Maine
- Construction of all facilities, site utilities, roadways, parking areas, and the infrastructure for the buildings
- Demolition of the existing facility
Project Status: Less than 50% complete
To see how funds were distributed between the project’s prime and sub recipients and to learn more about the project, check out the Award Summary or enter your zip code to find Recovery projects near you.
Photo of the Week – Electric Vehicle Charging Station Installation
Photo contributed to the Recovery.gov Flickr group by Flickr user GreenLoudoun
A portion of Loudoun County’s EECBG funds from ARRA were used to install 5 Electric Vehicle Charging Stations at the new Harmony Park & Ride lot in Hamilton, VA.
To see more photos of Recovery projects or add your own photos, visit the Recovery.gov Flickr Group.
ARRA Funds Energy Efficiency Upgrades for West Virginia Courthouse
Using Recovery funds, the General Services Administration (GSA) recently completed upgrades to improve energy efficiency at the Robert C. Byrd U.S. Courthouse in Charleston, West Virginia. The renovations included the installation of a new roof and 315 photovoltaic solar panels, upgrades to the parking garage, and adjustments to the heating, ventilation and cooling systems. Learn more about this project and read the full story by visiting the GSA website.
Project Spotlight – Northwest Youth Corps Programs
Recipient: Northwest Youth Corps Program
Award Amount: $227,203
The recipient reported that these Recovery funds would be used to:
- Offer youth employment and development opportunities
- Create 29 work weeks (432 hours) for 11 youth participants ages 16-19 and two adult crew leaders to participate in Conservation Corps Programs
- Fund youth stipends and transportation costs
- Purchase tools and camping equipment
Crewmember work involved maintenance within the Okanogan-Wenatchee Forest in Washington. Reportable outcomes at project completion included:
- 32.97 miles of trail maintained
- 874 drainage structures installed
- 9 stream crossings
- 1,030 feet of turnpike built
- 10 foot bridge built
- 400 feet of puncheon built
- 125 feet of trail decommissioned
- 52 feet of retaining wall built
- 8 check dams installed
- 17 logs bucked out of the trail system
Project Status: Completed
To learn more about the project, check out the Project Summary or enter your zip code to find Recovery projects near you.
Photo of the Week – AZ Tank Farm Upgrades
Photo conitrbuted to the Recovery.gov Flickr Group by Department of Energy Office of River Protection
Tank Farms contractor Washington River Protection Solutions completed an upgrade to critical radioactive waste transfer lines at Hanford’s AZ Farm. Workers installed roughly 80 feet of double-walled piping used to transfer high-level radioactive waste between tanks. Funded through the Recovery Act, the upgrades prepare the tanks for delivering waste to the Waste Treatment Plant once it’s operational.
Recovery Act Funds Wood-to-Energy Installations
In August 2009, $11.4 million in U.S. Forest Service Recovery Act grants were awarded to the State of Maine to help rural counties convert heating systems to wood/dual-fuel heating systems. The grants fund a program designed to achieve energy savings, reduce dependence on non-renewable energy resources, reduce greenhouse emissions, and support sustainable forestry.
Visit the USDA Blog to read the full story and see pictures of how these grants are being put to use.
Your Questions Answered
New Media Specialist, Sally Dadjou, answers some of your questions.
Native American Tribe Learning Computer Skills
The University of Wisconsin-Extension (UWEX) in Madison was awarded $2.4 million under the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s Broadband Technologies Opportunities Program. UWEX allotted $174,300 of the grant to underwrite computer classes that the university’s affiliate, the College of the Menominee Nation, offers free to tribe members.
Menominee veterans were some of those to take advantage of the computer classes.
View more pictures and read the full story here.
Annette Tourtillott Assisting Menominee Veteran with his email account.
Annette Tourtillott Assisting Menominee Veteran with his email account.
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