Legislation (HR 408) in the House aimed at cutting $2.5 trillion in federal spending carries implications for the health IT industry, Health Data Management reports.
Bill Details
The Spending Reduction Act of 2011, introduced by Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), would eliminate funding for the meaningful use incentive program included in the 2009 federal economic stimulus package. Under the stimulus package, health care providers who demonstrate meaningful use of certified EHRs can qualify for Medicare and Medicaid incentive payments.
According to the Republican Study Committee, the bill would not repeal provisions under the HITECH Act, but it could eliminate un-obligated funds authorized by the act.
Reaction to Bill
Don Asmonga -- director of government relations for the American Health Information Management Association -- said it is too early to tell if the bill will pass the House. Asmonga said it remains unclear how many supporters of the bill also would support removing funding for the meaningful use program and other initiatives under the HITECH Act.
He added that certain elements of the legislation could appear in other bills (Goedert [1], Health Data Management, 1/31).
Jennifer Covich Bordenick, CEO of the eHealth Initiative, said the health care industry's move toward adopting IT depends on assistance from the HITECH Act. She said attempts to repeal funding for health IT would have "severely negative effects on public and private progress now and in coming years" (Goedert [2], Health Data Management, 1/31).
Dave Roberts -- vice president of government relations for the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society -- said his organization is informing members about HR 408.
In a statement, HIMSS said that the legislation is contributing to industry confusion and that it "further delays our American health care benefiting from the quality improvement and cost-control benefits that would ensue from health IT" (Conn, Modern Healthcare, 1/31).