Senator Michael Enzi (R-WY), co-sponsor with Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA) of Senate legislation to encourage the nationwide adoption of electronic health records (EHR), said he would consider supporting the attachment of health information-technology language to an economic stimulus package that lawmakers expect to pass early next year. Kennedy has not commented on the proposal.
Kennedy is Chairman and Enzi is ranking member of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) committee. More than a year ago the bi-partisan duo introduced the Wired for Health Care Quality Act but it has not reached the Senate floor due to concerns over privacy issues and funding.
Despite these concerns, the outlook for health IT does look good. A recent study reveals that most American adults are in support of a nationwide system of medical records and believe the federal government should have a role in establishing rules and standards of the system.
The widespread use of EHRs is also a goal of outgoing President George W. Bush and was a significant campaign issue for President-elect Barack Obama. In 2005, Bush issued an executive order that set a goal of most Americans having access to a secure, interoperable EHR by 2014. Obama campaigned on a pledge of investing $10 billion per year over five years in health IT.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) says the benefits of EHRs are many, including: fewer medical errors and redundant procedures, faster diagnoses and treatment of serious illnesses, timely health screenings, better communication between patients and physicians, and shorter wait times for patients as well as lower operating costs for physicians.
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