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What is the digital divide? |
The “digital divide” is a phrase used to describe the disparities between certain populations—including Hispanic-Americans—and the total population in terms of access to digital and information technology. Lack of access means lack of knowledge, and the digital divide negatively affects these groups in terms of education, economic equality, and cultural representation.
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What is meaningful use? |
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Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (also known as the Stimulus Bill), $19 billion in incentive money is available to healthcare providers and hospitals who succeed in establishing “meaningful use” of certified electronic health record (EHR) technology. The standards of meaningful use have been defined so that doctors complying with certain rules can start claiming these incentives by 2011; doctors who fall short will start paying penalties after 2015. |
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What are the ARRA incentives/penalties around meaningful use? |
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Physicians who are successful in establishing meaningful use will be eligible to receive up to $44,000 in incentive bonuses, payable over a five-year period, starting in 2011 and ending in 2016. These payments are linked to the physician’s annual allowed charges to Medicare and are intended to cover the costs associated with installing and maintaining an EHR system. Beginning in 2015, physicians who have not yet implemented an EHR system will receive a one percent reduction in their Medicare allowed charges. |
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What are the other benefits of adopting HIT? |
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Aside from the monetary incentives, adopting HIT is hugely beneficial to providers, patients, and communities at large. Electronic records improve efficiencies, which lower costs and grant more time for healthcare providers to concentrate on delivering quality care to their patients. Healthier patients and thriving independent practices lead to communities that are more vibrant physically, economically, and culturally. |
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Does LISTA serve the Hispanic community exclusively? |
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LISTA serves a diverse population of traditionally underserved individuals, including but not limited to our network of Latinos across the country. To further our mission of bridging the digital divide, our programs are designed to be inclusive of everyone for whom access and knowledge has historically been limited: elementary, secondary and post-secondary students in Hispanic-serving schools; low-income families, from small children to seniors; and returning military veterans. The National Latino Alliance on Health Information Technology Plans to address over 5000 doctors and staff and over 2500 technology businesses across the country in the next 5 years through workshops, seminars and conferences and off-site outreach programs. These programs will target Hispanics healthcare professionals, providers, technicians and tech in urban areas. |
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Who are your partners? |
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LISTA has established partnerships with such organizations as the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS), Office of the National Coordinator (ONC), the Department of Health and Human Services, National Hispanic Medical Association and the National Forum of Latino Healthcare Executives, the Greater NY Hospital Association, and the National Hispanic Business Information Clearinghouse. |
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What is LISTA’s approach to the problem of HIT disparities? |
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The National Latino Alliance on Health Information Technology is a multi-year, four-tiered campaign to incorporate healthcare delivery goals into LISTA’s community and job development programs. LISTA plans to advocate, educate and ensure financial sustainability for health IT integration among those who have traditionally been delayed in adopting new technologies. For more details, please visit our Services Area and see how FASE can help you. |
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How is LISTA’s approach to the HIT disparity unique? |
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LISTA’s greatest strength has always been its diverse network of Latino leaders, professionals, and community members. In the past decade, LISTA has established itself as a trusted advisor to Latinos across the country, making outreach efforts more efficient, effective and culturally relevant than organizations who do not have these relationships with the community. Welcoming partnerships that boast different assets, LISTA’s objective will be to leverage the talent of our members, the influence of our network, and the power of our mission toward strengthening America’s healthcare delivery system. |