New Gloucester, ME – A "Drop in the bucket," "a drop in the ocean," "scratches the surface," "a dent in the total costs," "a paltry sum," "not even close," "laughable," "a sham" are some of the comments that accompanied responses to our recent News Monitor survey regarding President Bush's proposed $125 million for healthcare IT.

Healthcare IT News asked readers whether the $125 million the president proposed in the next federal budget to give healthcare IT a boost, would be enough to achieve the his stated goals. Most respondents answered a resounding "no."

Of the 169 responses received, 152 readers or 90 percent, said $125 million was not enough, while 17 respondents, or 10 percent, said, yes, it would do as a start.

The president, who has called for adoption of electronic health records nationwide within 10 years, announced in a visit to the Cleveland Clinic in January his intention to seek $125 million for HIT in the next federal budget.

"A drop in the bucket," said Mark Tepping, CIO at Bridgeport Hospital in Bridgeport, Conn. "The only way we will make progress in any meaningful way is for the Feds to mandate the use of a particular application (for example, the VA system)."

Jennifer Fitch of Healthcare Innovative Solutions said a single healthcare IT implementation would take several million dollars – "$125 million isn't going to go far for the entire healthcare infrastructure!" she said, and added, "I don't think he will get the money with the current overwhelming deficit."

"It is a nice start, but not going to be nearly enough to accomplish anything meaningful or long-lasting, said James Grover of St. Elizabeth Health Services in Baker City, Ore.

Several people, who found the proposed $125 million too little for the stated goals, questioned whether even that amount would win congressional approval.

"It will never be funded," said one respondent. "The war in Iraq and the growing national debt will prevent any funding of this initiative."

Those who viewed the $125 million as enough saw it as seed money to be used "wisely" and in the "right places."

"The road to integrated IT for U.S. healthcare will be a steady climb," said one respondent. "Trying to do too much at once will likely result in failure, and this amount is a good start."