A bill (HR 408) recently introduced in the House could have implications for the meaningful use incentive program and other provisions authorized under the HITECH Act, Health Data Management reports.
Under the 2009 economic stimulus package, health care providers who demonstrate meaningful use of certified electronic health records can qualify for Medicaid and Medicare incentive payments.
Bill Details
The Spending Reduction Act of 2011, sponsored by Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), seeks to cut federal spending by $2.5 trillion over the next 10 years.
Under Section 302 of the legislation, more than $27 billion authorized for meaningful use incentive payments likely could be repealed if the measure were enacted, according to Health Data Management.
Section 301 of the bill could affect other programs under the HITECH Act, which includes the authorization of:
- Expanding HIPAA transaction sets;
- Health IT programs at colleges and universities;
- Regional extension centers; and
- Strengthened privacy and security rules.
This section states that any unused funds from the act's $2 billion in discretionary spending allocated to the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT would be rescinded if the funds are considered "un-obligated balances."
The bill also would prohibit appropriating funds to implement any programs under the federal health care reform law.
Outlook for HR 408
The Democratic-controlled Senate likely would not pass the bill, and President Obama likely would veto the bill if it reached his desk (Goedert, Health Data Management, 1/27).
Dave Roberts -- vice president of government relations at the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society -- said the legislation is "creating confusion in the industry," adding, "We've heard from some CIOs, asking us, 'What is this? We hear the House is going to rescind our money.'"
Roberts said he does not believe the current legislation will pass, but he added that "if this is a new way of thinking, that could be concerning. ... [I]t's something that has to be watched closely" (Miliard, Healthcare IT News, 1/28).
Justin Barnes -- vice president of marketing, corporate development and government affairs at Greenway Medical Technologies, a software vendor -- said the legislation is "a message bill" that would not pass as it stands and would not remove health IT funding (Goedert, Health Data Management, 1/28).