WH to announce new health IT grants Friday

The Obama administration plans to announce about $975 million in health information technology grants on Friday.

The money, approved as part of the 2008 federal stimulus, will be split between states and nonprofits, with the goal of expanding health IT at more than 100,000 hospitals and care facilities by 2012.

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius will announce the first portion of the award — about $750 million to encourage IT implementation — at a press event on Friday.

About 40 states will receive about half of that money; the rest will go to non-profits that specifically assist health professionals establish their information technology systems, according to the White House White House.

"Health information technology can make our health care system more efficient and improve the quality of care we all receive," Sebelius said in a statement. "These grant awards, the first of their kind, will help develop our electronic infrastructure and give doctors and other health care providers the support they need as they adopt this powerful technology."

Meanwhile, Labor Secretary Hilda Solis will unveil the second pot of money — nearly $250 million to train new health IT workers nationwide. The White House estimates that round federal aid will train up to 15,000 new employers in the burgeoning health technology fields.

“The Recovery Act’s investments are making a positive difference in the lives of America’s working families,” Solis said.  “The investments announced today will ensure thousands of workers across the nation can receive high-quality training and employment services, which will lead to good jobs in healthcare and other industries offering career-track employment and good pay and benefits.”