WASHINGTON – The Health IT Now! Coalition announced Wednesday that it will continue to push lawmakers to include measures to promote healthcare IT in any healthcare reform legislation up for consideration.
Leaders of the non-profit organization dedicated to educating lawmakers and the public on the benefits of healthcare IT said they hope this week's National Health IT Week in Washington, D.C. will re-energize policymakers to consider legislation with health IT applications.
"Expanding health IT saves money, saves lives and improves care." said Joel White, executive director of the coalition. "We are encouraged Congress is providing additional changes to incent the adoption and use of health IT. We're encouraging them to go even further. The clear evidence is health IT bends the growth curve in the right way, while improving care and reducing medical errors. This is exactly what needs to be part of health reform."
White said he hopes National Health IT Week will highlight efforts to bring healthcare delivery into the 21st century. While the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act put nearly $23 billion of seed money into creating a nationwide interoperable health IT system, he said, more needs to be done.
At a Capitol Hill briefing Tuesday, lawmakers said they are dedicated to pushing for more healthcare IT provisions. Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-R.I.), co-chairman of Congress' 21st Century Health Care Caucus, said healthcare providers would continue to need support via legislation, grants and agency guidance, especially with the logistics of applying for funding and adopting electronic health records.
The Senate Finance Committee released a health reform package last week that includes measures to advance healthcare IT. "America's Healthy Future Act," proposed by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.), would encourage value-based purchasing for physicians, hospitals, skilled nursing facilities and home health agencies participating in Medicare. The bill would encourage doctors to coordinate care and reduce duplicate tests and create incentives for healthcare providers to improve quality of care through healthcare IT and combat Medicare fraud and abuse.
The bill is currently under debate by the full committee.
