A bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives May 10 would help push the paper-based U.S. health care system into the world of health information technology. The Academy is supporting the measure, saying now is the time to act.
The 21st Century Health Information Act, (PDF file: 37 pages / 85 KB. More about PDFs.) introduced by Reps. Timothy Murphy, R-Pa., and Patrick Kennedy, D-R.I., authorizes the HHS secretary to make health information technology grants of up to $50 million in 2006.
Most experts agree that the U.S. health care system lags behind nearly every other major industry in the country in terms of using technology to conduct business operations.
H.R. 2234 puts private health IT companies on notice that they need to work together on interoperability issues. If the bill becomes law, private industry will have nine months to reach an agreement on technological standards before the HHS secretary has the authority to take over.
On May 12, the Academy issued a statement by David C. Kibbe, M.D., director of AAFP's Center for Health Information Technology, in support of H.R. 2234. He called the legislation a "critical and life-saving measure" because the use of electronic health records would improve the quality, safety and efficiency of health care.
Kibbe said the legislation takes into account the many small and medium-sized medical practices that the Academy says must be included in any successful interoperable U.S. health care system.
The bill also includes this AAFP recommendation: The federal government should establish a national technical assistance center to help physicians in small practices implement EHRs.
"We applaud Reps. Kennedy and Murphy for having the foresight to begin this essential transformation, and the AAFP encourages adoption of this measure. The time to act is now," said Kibbe.
