Business
Minnesota gives EMR loans
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted April 14, 2008
The Minnesota Dept. of Health has approved the first two loans of a new $6.3 million program aimed at getting more electronic medical records into the state's rural communities.
Swift County-Benson Hospital in Benson and Mille Lacs Health System in Onamia will borrow a combined total of $2.3 million to implement EMRs.
Other loan requests are being reviewed. Applications are on a first-come, first-served basis for six-year, no interest loans up to $1.5 million to help rural hospitals, small practices, nursing homes and other health facilities implement interoperable EMRs.
State law requires all physicians to use an EMR by 2015. The loan program was signed into law in 2007.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2008/04/14/bibf0414.htm.