BALTIMORE (AP) — Maryland’s health department wants medical providers to know federal money is available for them, if they implement or upgrade technology for medical health records.

The Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene made the announcement Monday.

The money is available through the federal Medicaid Electronic Health Record Incentive Program. The initiative is funded by federal money through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Doctors, nurses, certified nurse-midwives, dentists or physician assistants who participate in Medicaid and meet patient volume thresholds are eligible for the program.

The health department says hospitals that are acute-care facilities with at least 10 percent Medicaid patient volume are eligible to receive funds. Children’s hospitals are as well.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)