New Legislation Proposes Half Billion for Health IT

WASHINGTON–A Senate bill introduced last week would award a
half billion dollars a year for health information technology.

Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., authored the proposal, which
would fund the initiative from 2006 to 2011. Half of the funds
would be in grants and half would be in loans. Additional
legislation, written by Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn.,
and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., is expected to be
introduced later this month.

Dodd’s proposal also would create a new executive office of
National Health Information Technology to encourage the adoption of
health IT.

The bill comes a week after HHS Secretary Michael Leavitt–a
proponent of health IT–announced the creation of the American
Health Information Community to advise the department on making
health records digital and interoperable. The agency is soliciting
nominations for people to serve on the AHIC, which will be composed
of 17 members. Leavitt also said HHS will issue four requests for
proposals (RFPs) that will create processes for setting data
standards, certification and architecture for an Internet-based
nationwide health information exchange, as well as assess patient
privacy and security policies.

To submit a nomination, e-mail a letter of intent and resume to
[email protected]
and write “AHIC Nomination” in the subject line.