HIT and PI

The Office of Primary Care and Rural Health collects and disseminates information about Health Information Technology (HIT) and Electronic Health Records (EHR) using the Medicare and Medicaid Promoting Interoperability Programs (PI). 

We assist healthcare facilities in serving the underserved by achieving meaningful use and obtaining incentives from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) with links to news, tools, and resources from CMS, the Office of Rural Health Policy, the Office of the National Coordinator, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), and the Rural Health Resource Center.

PI and Meaningful Use Training

Region D of the Community College Consortium to Educate Health Information Technology Professionals is offering PI Programs and Meaningful Use training for rural health clinics, federally qualified health centers, critical access hospitals and rural hospitals with 49 or fewer beds.

Interested parties can view curriculum details and contact Ashleigh Walker, MAEd, RHIA, CCS-P via email for more information.

Transition to ICD-10

CMS provides two free International Classification of DIseases (ICD-10) video lectures and an expert article to assist physicians and health care providers in transitioning to ICD-10. Continuing medical education (CME) credits are available for physicians who complete the module, and anyone who completes the module will receive a certificate of completion.

See the CMS newsletter for more information.

Additionally, an ICD-10 resource toolkit is available.

HIT Resource Library

• Alabama Regional Extension Center
• CMS EHR Incentive Program
• Health Information Technology in Rural Healthcare (Rural Assistance Center)
• HITECH Programs and Advisory Committees
• HRSA Health Information and Quality
• National Rural Health Resource Center Workflow Guide
• Rural Health Resource Center SHIP
• Top 10 HIT Resources
• Workforce Development Programs

HIT Toolkits

• Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality HIT Tools and Resources
• Stratis Health Toolkit for Small Hospitals
• Stratis Health Toolkit Section 1.3 Adopt - Key Differentiators

Meaningful Use Resources

• The Medicare Promoting Interoperability Program
• FAQs - Medicare PI Programs
• HIMSS Analytics: What's Your Number?
• Meaningful Use Regulation for Electronic Health Records
• Medicare Electronic Prescribing Incentive Program FAQ
• Stage 1 Meaningful Use Objectives and Associated Measures

If you would like additional information on HIT and PI programs, please contact Robert Jordan via email or at (334) 206-5425.