On February 16, 2009, President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). Among other provisions, the ARRA provides $87 billion to increase the federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) for state Medicaid programs, over $19 billion to support the adoption and utilization of health information technology, and increased funding for housing, education, and the Social Security program.

The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technologies (ONC) is creating a defintion of "meaningful use" as it will apply to health IT.  The definition will inform everything the ONC does related to health IT including product verification, funding, and technical support.  The National Council is working to ensure the definition will include behavioral health and addiction treatment providers.

Recent News  I  Fact Sheets  I  Official Letters  I  Federal Resources  I
Additional Resources  I

Recent News

• National Council, NASMHPD Hold Congressional Briefing on the Impact of the Financial Crisis on the Public Mental Health Safety Net
• Senate Votes to Approve Jobs Bill; FMAP Extension May Be Included in Upcoming Round of Legislation
• CMS Releases Criteria on “Meaningful Use” of Electronic Health Records
   

Fact Sheets

• FAQs on Meaningful use IFR
• Including community mental health & addiction services providers in federal HIT funding initiatives
• Education and Workforce Provisions of the ARRA
• Medicaid Provisions of the ARRA
• Health Information Technology Provisions of the ARRA
• Other Provisions of Interest
   

Official Letters

• National Counil and Netsmart Technologies submitted Comments on the definition of "meaningful use"
• Members of Congress wrote a Letter to Secretary-Designate Sebelius urging inclusion of CBHOs in discretionary HIT funding
• National Council, SATVA, and NAPHS sent a Letter to Chairman Baucus to Ensure CBHOs are included in any federal HIT funding
   

Federal Resources

• HHS Launches Recovery Funding Page on Website
• CMS Guidance on FMAP Increase
• Federal Updates on Recovery Activities
• SSA Brochure on One-Time Payments to SSI Beneficiaries
• Dept. of Education Guidance on ARRA IDEA Funding for Services for Children and Youth with Disabilities
   

Additional Resources

• Online Resource of State Recovery Websites

• More Funding for National Health Service Corps

• Webinar: "Health IT Funding: Opportunities for Public Mental Health and Addictions Services" by Leigh Ann Lauth O'Neill, July 28, 2009;
  Recording & Presentation

• Executive Summary: HIT Joint Survey 
• National Council Created a Model Letter for Members to Send to Key Congressmembers in Support of Including CBHOs in Federal HIT Initiatives
• Kaiser Family Foundation Fact Sheet on FMAP Increase
• Council of Nonprofits Resource on ARRA Grant Funding