Obama, McCain spar over healthcare, health IT plans

At the final presidential debate last week, Senators John McCain (R-AZ) and Barack Obama (D-IL) both debated the differences between their health care plans, with both saying that health IT will be a catalyst in reforming the U.S. health system. 

McCain said he will work to lower the cost of healthcare through the widespread implementation of IT, similar to the way that health IT has been adopted by the Veterans Administration. Obama also said health IT would lower healthcare costs, and that he would propose to use more federal funds to expand the adoption of health IT. 

But neither candidate revealed any more details during the debate in terms of how IT would impact the industry. Earlier this month, Obama said that he would invest $10 billion per year over five years to help doctors adopt EMRs.

To learn more:
- read this InformationWeek blog [1]
- check out this HealthcareIT News story [2]
- read Obama's healthcare plan [3]
- read McCain's plan [4]