North Dakota Planning Loan Program

North Dakota Planning Loan Program

BISMARCK, N.D. – Today, the North Dakota Information Technology Department on behalf of the Health Information Technology (HIT) Advisory Committee has released guidance for North Dakota Healthcare Providers to apply for a low interest health information technology-revolving loan. In 2009, Senate Bill 2332 established a health information technology planning revolving loan fund with Bank of North Dakota for the purpose of providing low-interest loans to health care entities to build their health information technology infrastructure. The purpose of the loan fund is to assist healthcare providers with the purchase, install and support of fully functional, standards based, interoperable electronic health information technology systems. Application information can be found at: http://ruralhealth.und.edu/hit/loanfund/

The mission of the North Dakota Health Information Technology Advisory Committee is to facilitate the adoption and use of health information technology and exchange to improve healthcare quality, patient safety and overall efficiency of healthcare and public health services in North Dakota. Lisa Feldner, North Dakota Information Technology Chief Information Officer chairs the advisory group. The Health Information Technology Advisory Committee consists of a broad range of public and private health information technology stakeholders. A list of members appears on the HIT Advisory Committee Web site at http://ruralhealth.und.edu/projects/sorh/pdf/hit_advisory_committee_list.pdf. Information about the North Dakota HIT Advisory Committee is on-line at http://ruralhealth.und.edu/projects/sorh/hit.php.

North Dakota Loan Program

In 2009, Senate Bill 2332 established a health information technology (HIT) planning revolving loan fund with the Bank of North Dakota for the purpose of providing low-interest loans to health care entities to build their health information technology (HIT) infrastructure. To apply for a loan, applications must be submitted to the North Dakota HIT office (Step one). The HIT Director, in collaboration with a subcommittee of the HIT Advisory Committee shall review the loan applications and recommend applicants to the HIT Advisory Committee for approval. Applicants approved by the HIT Advisory Committee will be required to complete an on-site readiness assessment (Step two). Applicants with an on-site readiness assessment approved by the Advisory Committee will be invited to complete the Bank of North Dakota loan application. Upon approval of the application by the Bank, the loan will be made from the revolving loan fund (Step three).

Important Deadlines:

• Release of Guidance and Application: 03/05/2010
• Questions and clarification requests due by 3 pm CDT: 03/12/2010
• Technical Assistance Q&A Conference Call: 03/16/2010
  • Call in number: (877) 843-1738
  • Time 3:30 PM Central Time
• Initial Application due by 3 PM Central Time: 04/06/2010
• Application review completed by: 04/20/2010
• Notifications released: 04/30/2010