VA Will Use $983K Grant To Expand Telehealth To Vets

Gienna Shaw | FierceHealthIT | September 14, 2012

The Department of Veterans Affairs continues its efforts to expand access to care for veterans using technology--including telehealth--this time through a collaboration with the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.

An agreement between the two agencies promotes collaboration between VA facilities and private hospitals and clinics, according to a joint announcement, and is supported by $983,100 in grants to improve access and coordination of care through telehealth and health information exchanges in rural areas.

Three states with the highest density of veteran residents--Virginia, Montana and Alaska--each will receive approximately $300,000 to implement or upgrade telehealth capabilities for veterans. The grants will be used for telehealth equipment and to develop electronic health records that are compatible with the VA's Veterans Health Information Systems and Technology Architecture (VistA) system...