President-elect Barack Obama announced as part of his economic stimulus plan that he wants all U.S. residents to have electronic health records within five years.
When questioned, Obama said that he hoped to begin the economic stimulus package through Congress as early as his first week in office. He said in his speech that electronic health records will not only save billions through cutting waste and eliminating the need to repeat medical tests, but that they also will save lives by reducing medical errors.
Key Democrats are on board with the package, with plans to start committee hearings next week, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) plans to hold a floor vote during the last week of January.
To learn more about the plan:
- read this iHealthBeat piece [1]
Related Articles:
CBO says health IT only cost-effective solution to healthcare reform [2]
HIMSS report: $25 billion stimulus needed to help speed EMR adoption [3]
HIMSS objects to parts of Stark health IT bill [4]
HIMSS names four global EMR implementation trends [5]
Links:
[1] http://www.ihealthbeat.org/Articles/2009/1/9/Obama-Calls-for-All-Americans-To-Have-EHRs-Within-Five-Years.aspx
[2] http://www.fiercehealthit.com/story/cbo-says-health-it-only-cost-effective-solution-healthcare-reform/2008-12-22
[3] http://www.fiercehealthit.com/story/himss-report-25-billion-stimulus-needed-help-speed-emr-adoption/2008-12-22
[4] http://www.fiercehealthit.com/story/himss-objects-parts-stark-health-it-bill/2008-09-28
[5] http://www.fiercehealthit.com/story/spotlight-himss-names-four-global-emr-implementation-trends/2008-09-14