Wisconsin announced that it has begun working toward creating at statewide Health IT network. The state’s Department of Health Services filed plans last Friday with the federal government to create an electronic network for exchanging health information, allowing Wisconsin to qualify for $9.4 million in grants.

"Wisconsin is first in the nation in health care quality, and a secure, statewide electronic health information exchange will support jobs in our health technology industry and take our great health care system to the next level," Gov. Jim Doyle said in the release from DHS.

Private health care providers will receive an additional $500 to $800 million to upgrade their equipment and record systems to meet the new standards. Read more about the plan here.