History of the Medicaid Transformation Grants

CMS Transformation Grants

Before the HITECH Act was funded, the agency received two Medicaid Transformation grants to start health information technology and exchange projects for Medicaid in Arizona (click here for summary):

Grant 1: Medicaid Health Information Exchange Utility Project

Grant amount: $11.7 million

Executive summary: Click here to view the executive summary.

Final report: Click here to view the CMS final report and attachments.

Develop and deploy a Statewide Health Information Exchange (HIE)

Arizona Medical Information Exchange (AMIE)

AHCCCS developed an electronic web based health information exchange (HIE) to give providers access to patients’ health information at the point of care. AHCCCS did not use, collect or store the clinical data but allowed registered clinicians to locate and view information available from health care facilities that participated in the exchange and was for treatment purposes only.

In December 2009, the board members of AMIE decided to suspend technical operations to pursue a vision of developing a single state level HIE plan and roadmap by partnering with the Southern Arizona Health Information Exchange or SAHIE organization.

• AMIE Statement for Strategic Planning- December 2009 [PDF, 34KB]
• Arizona Medical Information Exchange (AMIE) - Monthly Project Update [96KB]

Develop and deploy a Electronic Health record (EHR) program

Purchasing & Assistance Collaborative for Electronic Health Records (PACeHR)

PACeHR, (pronounced "pacer"), was initiated in 2009, through the Transformation Grant and its supporting activity, and is now an Arizona not-for-profit corporation. PACeHR’s focus is to provide EHR services and solutions to physician offices and the surrounding ecosystem. Accelerating EHR adoption within small and medium sized primary care physician practices is the immediate focus. PACeHR stands for the Purchasing & Assistance Collaborative for Electronic Health Records.

Grant 2: Information coming soon.

Contact

Lorie Mayer, Medicaid HIT Coordinator
Email: Lorie.Mayer@azahcccs.gov