WASHINGTON – Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.), chairman of the Senate Finance Committee and responsible for leading healthcare reform efforts, said Monday that health IT will be key in containing costs to pay for reform.

At a press meeting hosted by the American Progress Action Fund, Baucus said Congress wants to reduce costs internally through delivery system reform, and he highlighted health IT and comparative effectiveness as prime examples. He emphasized savings would come over the long haul, up to 12 years, after initial investments in health IT.

"This is strategic," he said.

Baucus said the Senate is working hard to develop legislation before next fall, a longer timeline than initially proposed. He's optimistic about the process, saying, "I think all of us agree that the stars are maybe finally aligned this year for the passage of meaningful healthcare reform."

Baucus said a bipartisan compromise will create sustainability in health reform.

President Barack Obama has pledged to advance healthcare IT as a platform for health reform. The federal government has already made downpayments on healthcare IT in the economic stimulus package, putting aside $19 billion for health IT adoption and $2 billion for comparative effectiveness.