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Health IT

Friday, October 05, 2012

UnitedHealthcare Gives Critical Access Hospitals $20M for Health IT

UnitedHealthcare has announced that it will provide $20 million in grants to help 11 critical access hospitals in Central and Northern California implement electronic health records, Payers & Providers reports.

UnitedHealthcare worked with the California State Rural Hospital Association, the California Critical Access Hospital Network and the California Rural eHealth Information Network to determine the funding each hospital needs to implement EHRs.

About the Grant Recipients

The grants are being awarded to hospitals that have 25 or fewer beds and are at least 35 miles from another hospital or are located in mountainous regions accessible only by secondary roads.

The recipients typically have annual operating budgets under $25 million and treat large numbers of uninsured and elderly patients, as well as Medi-Cal beneficiaries. Medi-Cal is California's Medicaid program.

The grant recipients are:

  • Biggs-Gridley Memorial Hospital in Butte County, which will receive $2.5 million;
  • John C. Fremont Healthcare District in Mariposa County, which will receive $2 million;
  • Kern Valley Healthcare District, which will receive $1.5 million;
  • Last Frontier Healthcare District in Modoc County, which will receive $2 million;
  • Mayers Memorial Hospital District in Shasta County, which will receive $2 million;
  • Mendocino Coast District Hospital, which will receive $2.5 million;
  • Plumas Health Care District, which will receive $1.5 million;
  • Seneca Healthcare District in Plumas County, which will receive $1.6 million;
  • Southern Inyo Healthcare District, which will receive $1.7 million;
  • Surprise Valley Health Care District in Modoc County, which will receive $800,000; and
  • Trinity Hospital, which will receive $1.7 million.

Comments

Steve Barrow -- executive director of the California State Rural Hospital Association -- said, "The interests of rural people must not be lost or dismissed because of distance, geographic isolation and lack of concentrated resources."

Dan Rosenthal -- CEO of UnitedHealthcare's western region -- said that it is important for critical access hospitals to "have access to technology that will enable them to deliver quality care to their patients" (Payers & Providers, 10/4).

Reader Comments:
  • 4
  • 10/15/2012
  • Bill Van Lente

Having helped a little with EMR for Kern Valley and John C. Fremont healthcare districts, I could not be more pleased for my colleagues, and ultimately their patients, and these two fine rural healthcare systems. The people in these two organizations are passionate about making quality healthcare happen for their patients and communities, in spite of the limited resources characteristic of district hospitals. This additional funding for HIT will be most helpful. Congratulations to all and thanks to United Healthcare. Bill Van Lente

  • 3
  • 10/10/2012
  • Marchel Burgess

Perhaps because the practice was exposed by NPR and they were required to cease and desist that practice.

  • 2
  • 10/05/2012
  • Beth Short

I applaud that my employer provides such assistance to care providers with limited resources. In addition, I've had worse coverage than the PPO with Health Savings Account offered by UHC to its employees, and I've had no insurance and couldn't get it as an individual for me or my young child. UHC has never tried to influence my vote, and I've watched for it. UHC has worked hard to assist hospitals and providers in adopting electronic health records and has been sensitive to the evidence that EHR improves quality of care by enhancing communication among practitioners and hospitals providing care.

  • 1
  • 10/05/2012
  • Marchel Burgess

Maybe they should consider using some of that money to provide decent health care insurance for their own employees. This company provided the absolute worst coverage I have ever had, and tried to influence my voting choices against healthcare reform by providing me with post cards to send to my legislators that I just had to sign and mail. In the short time I worked for them, ALL of my health care expenses came out of my own pocket AND I also paid significant premiums. This is not a company to be trusted with the health care of Americans.



Readers are invited to send feedback to: chl@chcf.org