House passes stimulus bill with health IT funding

Last week the U.S. House of Representatives approved President Obama's $819 billion economic stimulus package, which includes a budget of more than $20 million to help providers adopt health IT. The measure passed without a single "yes" vote from House Republicans.

The health IT stimulus funds come in addition to more than $80 billion for state Medicaid budgets, and a range of additional projects in highway construction, mass transit, unemployment benefits and more.

If the package passes, the health IT portion will help hospitals and physicians build out their IT infrastructure--probably focusing on grants for EMRs and e-prescribing technology, if past initiatives by HHS are any indication.

However, the stimulus bill still has a major obstacle to face: It has to pass the Senate, where opposing Republicans have vowed to make significant changes. It remains to be seen whether health IT funding will remain in place.

To learn more about the vote:
- read this Modern Healthcare article [1] (reg. req.)

Related Articles:
Governors call for healthcare stimulus plan [2]
HIMSS report: $25 billion stimulus needed to help speed EMR [3]
CBO says health IT only cost-effective solution to healthcare [4]