Georgia's children to benefit from new IT health initiative

Children's healthcare will get a much needed boost as states use improvements in technology to benefit the young and vulnerable. HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced $100 million in grants this week for health IT projects in 18 states for children enrolled in Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). The CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2009 will provide funding for the five-year grants, which aim to establish a national quality system for children's healthcare.

While Georgia will not receive the funding directly, it will work in partnership with Maryland and Wyoming to focus on improving treatment options for children with serious behavioral health needs.

HHS Offers $100M to Improve Children’s Health IT

"These grants will test the most current theories of how to improve the quality of care delivered to children," Cindy Mann, director of the Center for Medicaid and State Operations, said in a statement. "These awards will help create the foundation for a more responsive and effective national system of high quality healthcare for children."