How can we ensure this funding complements and does not replace or duplicate efforts of an ONC regional extension center or other Federally funded program in our community?
Funding in each of these categories may complement, but must not be duplicative of, other Federal programs, including State HIE Program and regional HIT extension centers. For example, the State HIE Program will ensure the basic infrastructure for information exchange, while the Beacon Community Program might focus on further developing and strengthening that infrastructure to improve care coordination, reduce duplicative testing and avoid medication errors. The extension center program will provide technical assistance for EHR adoption and meaningful use of primary care providers by 2011, while the Beacon Community Program might help accelerate EHR adoption by providing additional funds for certified EHR technology for those providers ineligible for other incentive programs and extending services to providers not covered under the Regional Extension Center cooperative agreements (e.g., “non-priority” providers, specialists and large practices). More importantly, the Beacon Community P
