123STA T . 2 49PUBLIC LA W 111 –5—FE B.1 7, 2 0 09 ‘ ‘ (3)OBJECTIV E .—Theobj e ctiv eo f the r e g io nal center s is to enhance an dp ro m ote the adoption of health information technolog y thro u gh— ‘‘( A ) assistance w ith the implementation , effective use, upgrading, and ongoing maintenance of health information technology, including electronic health records, to healthcare providers nationwide
‘‘( B ) broad participation of individuals from industry, universities, and S tate governments; ‘‘( C ) active dissemination of best practices and research on the implementation, effective use, upgrading, and ongoing maintenance of health information technology, including electronic health records, to health care providers in order to improve the q uality of healthcare and protect the privacy and security of health information; ‘‘( D ) participation, to the e x tent practicable, in health information exchanges; ‘‘( E ) utili z ation, when appropriate, of the expertise and capability that exists in F ederal agencies other than the Department; and ‘‘(F) integration of health information technology, including electronic health records, into the initial and ongoing training of health professionals and others in the healthcare industry that would be instrumental to improving the quality of healthcare through the smooth and accurate electronic use and exchange of health informa - tion. ‘‘( 4 ) R E G I ONAL A S SISTANCE.—Each regional center shall aim to provide assistance and education to all providers in a region, but shall prioritize any direct assistance first to the following
‘‘(A) P ublic or not-for-profit hospitals or critical access hospitals. ‘‘(B) Federally qualified health centers (as defined in section 186 1(aa)(4) of the Social Security Act). ‘‘(C) Entities that are located in rural and other areas that serve uninsured, underinsured, and medically under- served individuals (regardless of whether such area is urban or rural). ‘‘(D) I ndividual or small group practices (or a consor- tium thereof) that are primarily focused on primary care. ‘‘( 5 ) FINANCIAL S UP PO R T.—The Secretary may provide financial support to any regional center created under this subsection for a period not to exceed four years. The Secretary may not provide more than 5 0 percent of the capital and annual operating and maintenance funds required to create and maintain such a center, except in an instance of national economic conditions which would render this cost-share require- ment detrimental to the program and upon notification to Con- gress as to the justification to waive the cost-share requirement. ‘‘(6) N OTICE O F PROGRA MD ESCRIPTION AND AVAILABILIT Y OF FUNDS.—The Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register, not later than 9 0 days after the date of the enactment of this title, a draft description of the program for establishing regional centers under this subsection. Such description shall include the following: ‘‘(A) A detailed explanation of the program and the programs goals. Fed e ralR e gist er ,pub li c ati on.D eadline.
