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What current state initiatives are focused on health IT for children?

Several States are taking steps to promote children's health and well-being by creating and utilizing Health IT policies and tools. States have a critical role to play - as purchasers, providers, funders, facilitators and policymakers - in the development, organization and implementation of health IT. States are using health IT for the Children's Health Insurance Program, immunization registries and quality improvement initiatives, among other goals. The National Governors Association created a report for e-health as a guide to states: A Vision of Health Care From and Framework for the State Alliance for e-Health (PDF - 52 KB) . 

The following documents provide an overview of State initiatives focused on health IT for children:

• State e-Health Activities in 2007 (PDF - 516 KB). Specifics on children's care include information about health IT and CHIP on page 15 and immunization registries on page 36
• States' Roles in Shaping High Performance Health Systems (PDF - 492 KB). This document highlights various important health topics relating to children and Health IT. For example, on page 7 the report discusses how technology can aid in health insurance coverage
  

States use health IT in diverse ways to improve children's health and well-being. Specific examples include:

• Wisconsin's interactive website on health statistics
• Kentucky Governor Beshear's program for children's health insurance
• Rhode Island's computerized child health information system for both families and providers
• Alabama's Together for Quality Initiative  (PDF - 5.24 MB)

States have also used Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services transformation grants to create efficiencies and greater effectiveness in providing medical assistance through Medicaid. For example, New Jersey is using Medicaid transformation grants to create a health information exchange (HIE) for children. In addition, Texas is using HIT to coordinate services for foster children (PDF - 477 KB).