A bipartisan healthcare IT bill has been reintroduced in the U.S. Senate after failing to pass in the waning days of the 109th Congress. Called the Wired for Health Care Quality Act of 2007, the bill aims to encourage the development of standards for healthcare IT, according to its sponsors, which include Sens. Edward Kennedy, Mike Enzi, Hillary Clinton, and Orrin Hatch.
To accomplish that goal, the bill will codify the role of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology in coordinating the policies of federal agencies regarding healthcare IT, as well as establish a public-private partnership called the Partnership for Health Care Improvement. This partnership will provide recommendations with regard to technical aspects of interoperability, standards, implementation specifications, and certification criteria for the exchange of health information, according to the legislators.
Other provisions include a requirement for all federal IT purchases to conform to the standards recommended by the partnership and adopted by the president. Adoption of the standards by private entities would be voluntary. In addition, the bill would establish the American Health Information Community as a body providing recommendations regarding policies to promote the development of a nationwide interoperable health information technology infrastructure.
The bill also would ensure privacy protections for electronic health information, as well as help providers in using IT via grants and the establishment of a health information technology resource center.
Similar legislation failed to pass in the waning days of the 109th Congress.
By AuntMinnie.com staff writers
June 26, 2007
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