HEALTHeLINK Awarded $3.8 Million Health Information Technology Grant from New York State

                                                                   Earl Wells/Laura Jacobs

                                                                   e3communications

                                                                   716-854-8182

BUFFALO, NEW YORK – HEALTHeLINK, the Western New York Clinical Information Exchange, has been awarded a $3.8 million grant from New York State through Phase 17 of the Health Care Efficiency and Affordability Law of New York (HEAL NY) to improve the coordination of health care through the use of health information technology.  The funding is being provided by the New York State Department of Health, the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York and the Federal State Health Reform Partnership. The HEAL 17 grant follows a $16.1 million award to HEALTHeLINK in May 2010 through the federal Beacon Community Program from the Obama Administration. 

The HEAL grant will be used to support a collaborative effort focusing on those with affective disorders, including major depression. HEALTHeLINK is working with various primary care and mental health providers such as the Community Health Center of Buffalo to improve the delivery and coordination of mental health, long-term care and home care for approximately 20,000 patients in Western New York with complex mental health problems.

“We are very grateful for the continued support of the Western New York Clinical Information Exchange by New York State,” Michael Cropp, M.D., President and CEO of Independent Health and Chairman of the HEALTHeLINK Board of Directors. “Treating those with mental health challenges is extremely complex as there are often many health care professionals involved in their care. HEALTHeLINK can enhance the care provided to these patients through the sharing of real time information regarding their treatment, especially as it pertains to prescriptions and medications.”

“This latest award to HEALTHeLINK is another example of the unprecedented level of collaboration among health care providers throughout our region,” said Daniel E. Porreca, executive director, HEALTHeLINK. “We look forward to working with these entities to enhance the care provided to those with mental health disorders.”

Other participants in the collaborative include BlueCross BlueShield of WNY, Buffalo Medical Group, Catholic Health System, Catholic IPA, Crisis Services, Inc., Erie County Department of Mental Health, Erie County Medical Center, Horizons Behavioral Health, Housing Options Made Easy, Inc., Independent Health, Kaleida Health, Lakeshore Behavioral Health, Univera Healthcare, Urban Family Practice and WNY Behavioral Health Network.