This week, Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) introduced a bill (S 2765) designed to help family physicians and small physician practices transition to electronic health records, InternetNews reports.
The bill, called the Small Business Health IT Financing Act, would allow small-scale practitioners to apply for funds from the Small Business Administration to cover the costs of EHR implementation (Corbin, InternetNews, 11/11).
Physicians could use the SBA loans to purchase hardware, software and other technology to support EHRs and electronic prescribing systems.
Kerry said the measure would help small physician practices "acquire the technology that will allow them to be more efficient and to focus on patient care" (Office of Senator Kerry release, 11/10).