November 21, 2007

LANSING - Governor Jennifer M. Granholm and members of the Michigan congressional delegation announced that Michigan will receive $20.9 million over the next three years from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to extend high speed broadband internet to 390 public hospitals, primary care clinics, and other health care providers that serve critical populations in rural and tribal areas.  This program will dramatically expand the use of telemedicine throughout the state, which will allow Michiganians in rural areas to stay closer to home when in need of medical treatment. 

Michigan was awarded the 4th largest amount of funding nationwide by the FCC as a part of their Rural Health Care Pilot Project.  The Michigan Public Health Institute (MPHI) and the Michigan Departments of Community Health and Information Technology submitted Michigan's proposal to the FCC earlier this year.

"This initiative will improve the quality of care in rural areas while saving rural residents substantial travel costs when smaller hospitals and clinics are unable to perform necessary medical services," said Granholm.  "This is another step we are taking to ensure that our health care industry uses technology to vastly improve the system, reduce costs, and protect our privacy."  

This award will allow Michigan to offer competitive bids to the private sector to extend high speed broadband internet to health care providers in underserved areas of the state.  The new network infrastructure will connect existing state health networks to each other and Internet2 at speeds ranging from 1.5 Mbps to 100 Mbps.  Funding will first be allocated to increase broadband availability and affordability in rural clinics and small hospitals.  Then funding will increase the amount of bandwidth to regional and referral hospitals so they can handle the increase in telehealth traffic.  For example, a single MRI can require many megabytes of bandwidth, which is currently not available at these facilities.

Also as a part of this award, rural health care providers will see their rates for access to high-speed broadband internet reduced to be competitive with the cost in urban areas.  The cost for high speed internet in rural areas is typically more expensive than in urban areas.
 
Granholm thanked members of the Michigan congressional delegation for their support.  "This award is the result of a bipartisan effort, and I applaud the members of the Michigan congressional delegation for their work to make this happen," said Granholm.  "Without the support of Senators Stabenow and Levin, and Representatives Stupak, Dingell, Upton, Miller, Ehlers, Walberg, Kildee, Camp and Hoekstra, this would not be possible."

"As co-chair of the Senate Health Care Quality and Information Technology Caucus, I have fought to make sure doctors and hospitals, regardless of where they are located, have information technology to improve their patients' care," said Senator Debbie Stabenow.  "Over the years, I have seen the tremendous benefits of telehealth.  This funding is an investment in our state's ability to provide high-quality and affordable health care to every region of Michigan."

"This funding will help Michigan provide the high-quality health care services that millions of rural citizens depend on," said Senator Carl Levin.  "Expanding broadband technology is a win-win situation, bringing rural residents closer to the care they need and helping providers serve their patients more efficiently."

"I commend the FCC for choosing Michigan as one of the awardees for the Rural Health Care Pilot Project, which will provide Michigan with the opportunity to continue to develop and strengthen health information exchange within the state," said Congressman John Dingell.  "I would also like to acknowledge the leadership of Governor Granholm; because of her hard work and dedication, both Michigan residents and rural health care providers will benefit from reduced healthcare costs and broadband internet rates." 

"Already in northern Michigan, we have seen how telemedicine can link rural health care providers together to provide greater health care service," said Congressman Bart Stupak.  "Thanks to broadband technology, health care practitioners in Ironwood - on the far western end of the Upper Peninsula - can instantaneously benefit from the expertise of their colleagues in Sault Ste. Marie, over 300 miles away.  I am pleased that the FCC has approved this funding, which will help bring the benefits of broadband and telemedicine to more rural health care providers in my district and across Michigan."  

"Telemedicine provides the opportunity to tap into a wealth of medical knowledge in a matter of seconds - instantly making available a physician's expertise at times of emergency," said Congressman Fred Upton.  "This funding will significantly build on the existing telehealth network to bring clinical services such as trauma, neurology, behavioral health, and intensive care services

to rural locations throughout the state where these services are currently unavailable.  There is great potential to improve access to high-quality, community-based care and to help attract and retain health professionals to our rural communities.  I've seen this technology in action - in times of emergency where every second counts; from the U.P to southwest Michigan, lives will be saved."

In her 2006 State of the State address, Governor Granholm announced the Michigan Health Information Network (MiHIN).  She charged the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) and the Michigan Department of Information Technology (MDIT) with bringing together Michigan's health care and business stakeholders to develop a vision and plan for the future of health information technology and exchange in Michigan.

Michigan was one of the first states in the nation to develop a blueprint outlining a plan that will improve the quality, safety, and efficiency of health care delivery by accelerating the adoption and use of health information technology and health information exchange (HIE).  Michigan has been recognized as a national leader in health information technology, and our efforts were highlighted at the National Governors Association meeting in Traverse City earlier this year.  The report and more information about MiHIN can be found by going to www.mihin.org.

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