Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 123.djvu/268

 123STA T . 2 48PUBLIC LA W 111 –5—FE B.1 7, 2 0 0 9ef f orts to ad o p t ,im p l eme n t, and effe c ti v el yu tili z e h ealth information technolo g y that allo w s for the electronic e x change and use of information in compliance with standards, implementation specifications, and certification criteria adopted under section 30 0 4.‘ ‘ (2)INPUT . —T he C enter shall incorporate input from— ‘‘( A ) other F ederal agencies with demonstrated experi - ence and expertise in information technology services such as the N ational Institute of S tandards and Technology ‘‘( B ) users of health information technology, such as providers and their support and clerical staff and others involved in the care and care coordination of patients, from the health care and health information technology industry; and ‘‘(C) others as appropriate. ‘‘(3) P U R P OSE S.—The purposes of the Center are to— ‘‘(A) provide a forum for the exchange of k nowledge and experience; ‘‘(B) accelerate the transfer of lessons learned from existing pu b lic and private sector initiatives, including those currently receiving Federal financial support; ‘‘(C) assemble, analyze, and widely disseminate evi- dence and experience related to the adoption, implementa- tion, and effective use of health information technology that allows for the electronic exchange and use of informa- tion including through the regional centers described in subsection (c); ‘‘( D ) provide technical assistance for the establishment and evaluation of regional and local health information networks to facilitate the electronic exchange of information across health care settings and improve the q uality of health care; ‘‘( E ) provide technical assistance for the development and dissemination of solutions to barriers to the exchange of electronic health information; and ‘‘(F) learn about effective strategies to adopt and utilize health information technology in medically underserved communities. ‘‘(c) H E AL T H IN F OR M AT I ON TE C HNOLO GYR EGIONAL E X TENSION CENTERS.— ‘‘( 1 ) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall provide assistance for the creation and support of regional centers (in this sub- section referred to as ‘regional centers ’ ) to provide technical assistance and disseminate best practices and other information learned from the Center to support and accelerate efforts to adopt, implement, and effectively utilize health information technology that allows for the electronic exchange and use of information in compliance with standards, implementation specifications, and certification criteria adopted under section 3004. Activities conducted under this subsection shall be con- sistent with the strategic plan developed by the National Coordinator, (and, as available) under section 3001. ‘‘(2) AFFILIATION.—Regional centers shall be affiliated with any U nited States-based nonprofit institution or organization, or group thereof, that applies and is awarded financial assist- ance under this section. Individual awards shall be decided on the basis of merit.