Grants to Expand Care Coordination through the Use of Health Information Technology in Targeted Areas of Need

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment is accepting applications for fiscal year (FY) 2011 Grants to Expand Care Coordination through the Use of Health Information Technology in Targeted Areas of Need. The purpose of this program is to leverage technology to enhance and/or expand the capacity of substance abuse treatment providers to serve persons in treatment who have been underserved because of lack of access to treatment in their immediate community due to transportation concerns, an inadequate number of substance abuse treatment providers in their community, and/or financial constraints. The use of Health Information Technology (HIT), including web-based services, smart phones, and behavioral health electronic applications (e-apps), will expand and/or enhance the ability of providers to effectively communicate with persons in treatment and to track and manage their health to ensure treatment and services are available where and when needed. Grantees will use technology that will support recovery and resiliency efforts and promote wellness.Both the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and the Affordable Care Act (ACA) are driving health systems toward the use of information technology for service delivery, quality improvement, cost containment, and increased patient involvement in their health care. The functionality of interoperable Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems, used with tools such as web-based services, messaging systems, smart phones, and e-apps, can connect providers with persons in treatment and link them to services and treatment that are not available through "brick-and-mortar" facilities. Working with their clinicians, and with e-therapy tools, persons in treatment will become active partners in enhancing the effectiveness of their care. By using technology tools that have been adapted or designed to support substance abuse treatment, persons in treatment will have more frequent contact with providers. These technological tools will also complement existing or new EHR systems to create patient-centered treatment that also allows the provider to better monitor client progress and adjust treatment strategies as necessary to result in better health for persons in treatment and more efficient and effective use of resources. Consumer HIT applications also can be important in emergency situations to provide critical health information to medical staff. Grant funds must be used to expand and/or enhance existing systems or for the use of adjunct technologies such as consumer-oriented, wireless technology; personal health record systems; or electronic systems that support communication between provider and persons in treatment.These grants support SAMHSA's Strategic Initiative #6: Health Information Technology by increasing the ability of substance abuse providers to enhance and/or expand their capacity to use health information technology to serve persons in treatment who are traditionally underserved. Specifically, these grants support Goal 6.2 by providing incentives for the adoption and use of EHR's and HIT.TCE-Health IT is one of SAMHSA's services grant programs. SAMHSA's services grants are designed to address gaps in substance abuse prevention and treatment service and/or to increase the ability of States, units of local government, American Indian/Alaska Native Tribes and tribal organizations, and community- and faith-based organizations to help specific populations or geographic areas and with serious, emerging substance abuse problems, including co-occurring substance abuse and mental illness and persons with co-morbid substance abuse and chronic health conditions. SAMHSA intends that its services grants result in the delivery of services as soon as possible after award. Service delivery should begin by the 4th month of the project at the latest. SAMHSA strongly encourages all grantees to provide a smoke-free workplace and to promote abstinence from all tobacco products (except in regard to accepted tribal traditions and practices). TCE- Health IT grants are authorized under Section 509 of the Public Health Service Act, as amended. This announcement addresses Healthy People 2020 Substance Abuse Topic Area HP 2020-SA.