Jeff Bingaman United States Senator from New Mexico

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall today announced that New Mexico will benefit from two federal grants aimed at helping hospitals and medical professionals from across the state to received federal funds to defray the cost of adopting health information technology (HIT).  The grants come from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

HIT, which includes the use of electronic health records instead of paper medical records to maintain people's health information, improves the quality of care patients receive and reduces medical costs.

The grants awarded today through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will fund two organizations that will help New Mexico hospitals and medical professionals to select and purchase computers and other HIT equipment as well as tap into the federal funds available through ARRA to reimburse a significant portion of the cost.  Lovelace Clinic Foundation in Albuquerque, which has already received over $7 million to support the adoption of HIT, will receive an additional $404,775, and the DC-based National Indian Health Board will receive $403,865 to help tribes from New Mexico and other states with a significant Indian Health Services presence.

"The Recovery Act is making it possible for New Mexico hospitals, doctors and other medical professionals to improve the way they deliver health care.  This move will ensure that a patient's medical history is readily available as soon as it's needed, which will save lives and reduce costs," Bingaman said.

"This Recovery Act grant will help health care providers effectively incorporate this critical technology into their daily work, which will improve quality of care for all New Mexicans while also reducing costs to hospitals, doctors and taxpayers," Udall said.

New Mexico providers who would like assistance purchasing HIT or receiving federal reimbursement for the services may contact the New Mexico HIT Regional Exchange Center at (505) 938-9900.  More information is available at http://www.nmhitrec.org.