Over half of the healthcare information technology regional extension centers (HITREC) are undertaking activities and establishing relationships that don’t appear to support the notion of unbiased advice and avoiding a conflict of interest. Federal funding of over $640 million to encourage the deployment of electronic health records (EHR) by primary physicians is being used by many HITRECs in ways that will stifle innovation and bar new companies and innovative products from the exposure needed to improve health care.