January 29th, 2009

Reports the Philadelphia Inquirer:

Tucked inside the $819 billion economic stimulus package that passed the House yesterday are provisions to spur the adoption of electronic medical records.

The relatively modest $20 billion for health information technology would be, by far, the biggest government infusion to enable medical information to follow patients back and forth among doctors’ offices, hospitals and other providers.

If successful, experts say, electronic medical records would improve quality, reduce duplication of services, and limit errors – ultimately saving the nation hundreds of billions of dollars each year.

The federal money is likely to boost regional efforts in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and other states, such as a public-private project now ongoing to improve chronic care given by primary-care doctors in Philadelphia and its western suburbs.

Read what people in PA are saying about the provision in the Inquirer.