The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will provide state Medicaid agencies guidance on how to provide proof of the adequacy of their health IT plans so they can collect money available under the health IT stimulus legislation.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act allows states to request funds to develop a health IT vision and a path to meaningful use of certified electronic health records technology.

States will submit the information to CMS for the agency's approval and then be able to draw on federal financing for their Medicaid health IT programs.

The guidance, in the form of letters and various templates, will assist the states in providing CMS with the information the agency needs to assess how the they will manage the electronic health record incentive payments program called for under ARRA, according to a Nov. 30 Federal Register notice.

CMS will send state Medicaid directors letters and templates in an effort "to make the process as simple as possible," according to the notice.