Business consulting firm Input predicts that state Medicaid programs could spend as much as $380 billion on IT next year. As many as 21 state Medicaid Management Information System contracts are set to expire in the next five years, creating new vendor opportunities. Healthcare IT News.
The Blue Shield of California Foundation will provide a total of $7.7 million in grants, including $4 million to support health IT efforts, to 15 not-for-profit organizations in California and two not-for-profit groups on the East Coast. San Francisco Business Times, Healthcare IT News.
Beginning in 2009, three Washington State communities will test health record banks under four grants authorized by the state Legislature in 2005 and 2007. Google and Microsoft will partner with the grant recipients on the pilot projects. Health Data Management.
Brief reports on business deals and developments from the past week: HealthNet awarded a five-year contract worth more than $300 million to IBM; Noteworthy Medical Systems will acquire ChartConnect for an undisclosed sum