ONC Has Approved Maine's HIE Plan

Maine has received approval from the federal government for the full use of its grant of nearly $6.6 million to deploy and regulate health information technology allover the state, as Gov. John E. Baldacci announced. Maine is the sixth state to obtain the approval for its implementation plan by the Office of the National Coordinator (ONC), as officials noted. Currently, Maryland, New Mexico and Utah have had their plans approved. Shaun Alfreds, chief operating officer of HealthInfoNet, said "the state's designated health information exchange, the approximately $4.4 million in grants will serve to help deploy the exchange statewide and bring additional healthcare providers to connect to the exchange." There are currently six organizations connected to HealthInfoNet: Eastern Maine Health Systems in Brewer, Central Maine Healthcare in Lewiston, MaineGeneral Medical Centers, in Augusta and Waterville, Martin's Point Health Care in Portland and Bangor, Franklin Memorial Hospital in Farmington and MaineHealth, in Portland.