Feds OK $1.2B for health IT initiatives

Federal health officials are distributing $1.2 billion in economic stimulus law funding to state agencies and nonprofits to advance adoption of health information technology.

RFPs in the works for health exchange networks

The SSA is on track to award $24 million in contracts to help health care providers link to the Nationwide Health Information Network.

DOD names three Tricare contract winners

Three national health care providers have been named to provide managed health care support for the Defense Department’s Tricare program. They are: TriWest Healthcare Alliance Corp., of Phoenix; Aetna Government Health Plans, of Hartford, Conn.; and United Health Military and Veterans Services, of Minnetonka, Minn.

Federal contractors need the right stuff for success

Federal contractors must have strong attributes and depth to succeed amid slowing discretionary federal spending.

Chopra calls RFP process ineffective for health IT

CTO Aneesh Chopra is seeking to improve innovation in government health IT by seeking new procurement channels to increase input from vendors, according to a research firm.

Conflicting factors will keep fed contracting growth rates low

An analysis of the Obama administration’s proposed 2010 federal budget finds four key accelerators that should provide contracting opportunities in 2010 and beyond.

Forecaster tells contractors to lower expectations after Recovery Act jolt

In a year of transition, government contractors should expect flat budgets for the next few years, according to FedSources.

Health IT alliance to spread stimulus gospel

Allscripts, Microsoft and Cisco are now members of an alliance meeting with doctors on the health IT economic stimulus law provisions.

States to receive funds for flu response

The president's request for $1.5 billion to deal with the swine flu outbreak includes money to help states respond to the disease, an HHS official said.

Seattle firm tracks swine flu

A private firm is providing updates on the swine flu outbreak in Mexico to U.S. health agencies and the public.

IBM, SSA launch federal health records exchange

The system will speed the processing of disability claims.

FedSources: IT contractors to benefit from stimulus

Federal contractors will see a significant rise in opportunities stemming from the economic stimulus package, according to new analysis from FedSources Inc.

A healthy dose of new contracting

Perot reshapes government business to focus on health care opportunities.

Budget gives boost to IT, health care

The Health and Human Services Department would get money to increase techology, research and program integrity under the HHS $76.8 billion request.