On August 14, 2009, Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear signed an Executive Order creating Kentucky’s Office of Electronic Health Information. This new Office will be the conduit for development of health information exchanges and the stimulus grants available to states under the HITECH Act.  The Secretary of Kentucky’s Cabinet for Health and Family Services is vested with authority to appoint the Executive Director for the Office. 

The press release announcing the creation of the office states that the Kentucky E-Health Network Board, which is administratively attached to the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, will also serve as an integral resource to the Office as it moves forward.  CHFS Secretary Janie Miller said, “The Governor’s action will allow the Commonwealth to be in a position to apply for federal stimulus funds for planning and implementation of health information exchange to support infrastructure and build resource capacity, particularly for underserved communities.”  The Executive Order’s effective date is August 16, 2009.