WASHINGTON – In yet another letter in a series of letters the coalition Health IT Now! sent to Congress over several months, the group once again is urging lawmakers to take "immediate" action on healthcare IT legislation.

The Health IT Now! Coalition released its letter and announced new support and momentum for health IT legislation in a press conference Tuesday on Capitol Hill. In attendance was former U.S. Rep. Nancy Johnson (R-Conn.), co-chair of the coalition and coalition members from around the country.  

With time running out to pass a bill before Congress adjourns for the elections, the coalition unveiled a joint letter to Congress signed by more than 175 businesses, associations, patient groups and non-profit organizations from across the nation. Among them are the American Nursing Academy, American Cancer Society, the Business Rountable, Cisco, the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS), the Leapfrog Group, Oracle and Verizon.

The coalition's member groups "urge your immediate support to pass federal legislation that promotes the widespread adoption of health information technology in the remaining weeks before Congress adjourns," the coalition wrote. "Our organizations all share the downstream effects of our inefficient healthcare system particularly rising healthcare costs. We also share a common belief that technology holds the promise of improving the quality of patient care, enhancing access to care, reducing medical errors and reducing healthcare costs."

Health IT Now! recommended that Congress move now while it has broad public and private support as well as bipartisan endorsement rather than wait for a new administration that may have other priorities.