Rep. Kennedy: Reform heightens urgency of health IT

Health information technology (IT) advocates on Capitol Hill today pledged to keep up their push for health IT measures in healthcare reform and other pending legislation, despite the massive commitment to health IT already made in the economic stimulus package. At a briefing, lawmakers said that even with health IT provisions in the stimulus and reform bills, they want to be sure that funding continues to be available. Rep Patrick Kennedy (D-RI), co-chair of Congress' 21st Century Health Care Caucus, said healthcare providers would continue to need support via legislation, grants, and agency guidance, especially with the logistics of applying for funding and adopting electronic health records. "We need to really get the money out to the states and providers," he said. "(Providers) need to know what the triggers are for getting the money and how to apply for it." Rep Kennedy and other congressional members spoke at the opening of the annual National Health IT Week sponsored by the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) and other public and private sector organizations.