Prompt Action Urged on Health IT Legislation

rninformatics, DNP, RN · Sep 9, 2008

From iHealthBeat

September 09, 2008

Coalition Letter Urges Prompt Action on Health IT Legislation

On Tuesday, a broad coalition of industry and not-for-profit groups will send a letter to members of the Senate and House urging them to pass legislation to create a nationwide electronic heath record system, CongressDaily reports.

The Health IT Now Coalition argues that technology can increase access to patient care, boost health care quality, reduce medical errors and cut costs. In the letter, the group warns lawmakers against waiting for "the uncertainty of the priorities of a new administration" to pass legislation that group members argue has bipartisan support.

The coalition consists of more than 175 stakeholders, including:

American Cancer Society;

American Heart Association;

AstraZeneca;

Cisco Systems; and

Pfizer.

Health IT Bills

Senate Health, Education Labor and Pensions Chair Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) and ranking member Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.) introduced a health IT bill more than a year ago. The legislation was hotlined before the August recess, but threats by several members delayed voting on the measure.

Meanwhile, House Energy and Commerce Chair John Dingell (D-Mich.) and ranking member Joe Barton (R-Texas) introduced a health IT bill in the House that is awaiting floor action.

In addition, House Ways and Means Subcommittee Chair Pete Stark (D-Calif.) is working on legislation that would use Medicare reimbursement as an incentive for health care providers to adopt health IT. Health IT Now Executive Director Joel White said Stark is expected to introduce his proposal this week.

Former Rep. Nancy Johnson (R-Conn.), co-chair of Health IT Now, said health IT legislation has "a 50-50 shot" this legislative year "because the hurdles are high and it's easy for Congress to get bogged down in the ancillary" issues.

Opposition

Deborah Peel, founder of the Patient Privacy Rights Foundation, has said that the bills' language is not strong enough to protect against improper use of medical records and potential security breaches.

America's Health Insurance Plans also has criticized the pending health IT bills. The industry lobbying group argues that the measures could hinder health care providers' ability to offer wellness programs, disease management, quality assurance and other important services (Noyes, CongressDaily, 9/9).