Can Health IT be the issue everyone agrees on?
This week the Healthcare Information Management and Systems Society (HIMSS) has reported they have formally written to both major political parties for health IT support. In this election year, both the Democratic and Republican conventions will be held next month. HIMSS has sent proposed language to both the Democrats and Republicans to include support of health information technology in their party platforms.
The letters that were sent last week were identical but sent to respective party chairs. The Democratic letter was sent to Democratic National Committee Chair, Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Democratic National Platform Drafting Committee Chair, Ted Strickland. The Rebublican letter was sent to Republican National Committee Chairman, Reince Priebus and Republican National Convention Platform Committee Chairman, Robert McDonnell.
After introductions of who they are and why this is important, the letters concluded with the language they were lobbying to include. Throughout the letter information was footnoted for further detail and backing of the cause. Here are the resources used.
- President George W. Bush. Executive Order 13335: Incentives for the Use of Health Information Technology and Establishing the Position of the National Health Information and Technology Coordinator. April 27, 2004.
- Congressional Budget Office. Evidence on the Costs and Benefits of Health Information Technology. May 2008.
- American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Pub. L. No. 111-5, (2009).
- Dustin Charles, MPH; Michael Furukawa, PhD; and Meghan Hufstader, PhD. Electronic Health Record Systems and Intent to Attest to Meaningful Use among Non-federal Acute Care Hospitals in the United States: 2008-2011. The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology. February 2012.
- HIMSS Analytics. Hospitals Continue to Move toward Meeting Stage 1 of Meaningful Use. February 17, 2012.
- Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology. HealthIT.gov
Proposed language for inclusion in the Party Platform on the widest adoption of Health Information Technology in support of the transformation of healthcare in America:
In order to improve the quality, safety, and cost-effectiveness of healthcare, and to ensure care is accessible for all Americans, the Democratic Party will continue its strong support for the rapid, nationwide adoption of Health Information Technology including electronic health records and the secure, electronic exchange of health information.