A Medical Device Daily

Sevocity, a division of Conceptual MindWorks (San Antonio) said that it will provide special pricing and grants to Louisiana physician practices and community health centers to complement the state's participation in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) EHR Demonstration Project.

The CMS program offers up to $58,000 per participating physician over five years to support the purchase of a CCHIT Certified EHR system. "Because of Sevocity's affordable pricing, providers who receive the CMS grants could purchase and implement Sevocity EHR at little or no net out of pocket costs," said Craig McCaskill, regional account manager for Sevocity who serves the Louisiana and Arkansas Region. "Also, because Sevocity EHR is a secure, Internet-based system, Sevocity offers immediate access and additional protection to important medical data, preventing interruption during inclement weather or natural disasters."

Sevocity is offering a similar program in Maryland, which CMS also selected to participate in the demonstration project. In July, the Maryland Health Care Commission (MHCC) chose Sevocity EHR for the MHCC's "Select 2007 EHR Vendors" list. The MHCC selected Sevocity as part of this program based on demonstrations of Sevocity's functionality and affordable pricing in addition to discounts Sevocity will offer to Maryland providers.

In other grants news, Satellite Healthcare (Mountain View, California) reported the recipients of its 2008 Norman S. Coplon Extramural Grants, all young scientists at leading universities and medical centers in the U.S. and Canada who are pursuing innovative kidney disease research projects.

"These grants can be seen as seed money for talented young scientists who are building their reputations doing basic and clinical research in kidney disease," said John Moran, senior VP of Clinical Affairs for Satellite Healthcare and WellBound. "We want to motivate and help the best and brightest of young researchers to devote their time and energy to studying kidney disease, which affects 26 million Americans with another 20 million at risk of developing the disease."