News Release

August 6, 2009

OHCA Contact: Jo Kilgore, Public Information Manager, (405) 522-7474.

Health Information Technology Forum Slated

OKLAHOMA CITY – In an effort to ensure full transparency and accountability, the leaders of Oklahoma’s Health Cabinet put together a workgroup to explore opportunities and bring together ideas for health information technology. An open forum to discuss the opportunities for health information technology included in the federal stimulus act is slated for Friday, Aug. 14, in Oklahoma City.

The adoption of health information technology is one of the major policy priorities of the recently passed American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The recovery act package includes $2 billion in appropriated funds to support a series of grants, loans and technical assistance programs designed to aid providers with the adoption of electronic health records and to spur health information exchange at the state, regional and local levels.

The opportunities presented through the ARRA throughout the coming years will impact Oklahoma’s practice of medicine and health care by consumers. The Oklahoma’s Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Summit will provide an opportunity for those who are interested to provide comments and feedback on Oklahoma’s planning for health information technology. The forum will be held from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Clarion Meridian Hotel & Conference Center, 737 S Meridian, Oklahoma City.

The meeting was originally slated to be held in Weatherford. However, due to overwhelming interest this event has been moved to Oklahoma City as a centralized location.

The meeting agenda and additional information on the Oklahoma Health Information Exchange is available at: www.okhca.org/okhitech.

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