Part one of a three-part series (Access part two and part three):Like pixie dust sprinkled on the healthcare industry's woes, references to healthcare information technology are found throughout the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the healthcare reform legislation that President Barack Obama signed into law Tuesday.
In fact, the keywords “information technology” were mentioned 44 times in the law,
first on page 3 and last on page 821. The law also is laced with additional references for electronic health records and IT standards.
The Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010,
the companion “fix it” bill that also passed the House on Sunday, 220-211, is pending before the Senate.
Meredith Taylor, director of congressional affairs with the Chicago-based Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society, said she does not think Congress is relying too heavily on health IT as a solve-all solvent for the healthcare industry's woes.
“I think it's important how health IT is addressed,” Taylor said. “It's a tool in the process. When they're talking about activities that providers need to do, they note health IT as one of many tools. In some grants that are provided for some pilot programs, it says that some applicants that use IT will be given priority consideration if they use EHRs. It's definitely a piece of the puzzle.”
Taylor said HIMSS hopes to publish an itemized analysis of the IT provisions in the massive legislation within a few days.
Taylor's HIMSS colleague, Elinore Boeke, senior manager, public policy communications, provided a list of examples where the new law attempts to leverage health IT to improve patient access as well as the quality and cost of healthcare. According to Boeke, the legislation:
Supports programs to foster the reporting of quality measures through the use of health IT.
Directs the establishment of IT standards to facilitate the enrollment of individuals in health plans, as well as standards to enable the determination of an individual's eligibility and financial responsibility for specific services prior to or at the point of care.
Establishes new programs that use IT to test new, more effective healthcare delivery models.
Aims to increase the use of health IT in long-term-care settings through grant assistance.
Directs the use of health IT in health-risk assessments for Medicare beneficiaries.
Establishes incentive payments for payers and providers that use IT to improve healthcare outcomes.
Supports the education and training of health IT among medical students.
Taylor said the new law often references to IT programs laid out in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009—programs that are only now being launched or remain under development.
“Looking at it, the most important thing to note is that it builds on the ARRA and continues to recognize next steps that are needed regarding health IT policy and continuing to incentivize providers for using health IT and workforce and training, and it does incentivize the use of health IT in the long-term care,” Taylor said.
Part two: Some specific IT provisions in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care ActWhat do you think? Write us with your comments at hitsdaily@modernhealthcare.com. Please include your name, title and hometown.
