Enabling Healthcare Reform Using Information Technology

Call to Action: 2009 is the year for healthcare reform in the United States. HIMSS believes that lives can be saved, outcomes of care improved, and costs reduced by transforming the  healthcare system through the appropriate use of information technology (IT) and management  systems.  It is essential that health IT be harnessed as a tool in transforming healthcare, improving  quality by delivering information where and when it is most needed, reducing costs, empowering  consumers in their healthcare decisions, and providing for the privacy and security of personal  health information.  To ensure that health IT is appropriately addressed in anticipated healthcare reform policy in  2009, HIMSS developed unified recommendations for the new Congress and Administration  concerning the role of health IT in healthcare reform. The recommendations represent necessary  measures to develop and sustain a robust IT infrastructure for healthcare. Policymakers should consider the recommendations components of the necessary foundation to strengthen and sustain 

the success of their healthcare reform legislation, proposals, and regulation policies.   Healthcare Reform and the Promise of Health IT: With healthcare spending in the US totaling more than $2 trillion a year and 45 million people in the US lacking health insurance, healthcare reform must be a top priority for the Obama Administration and the 111th Congress. As a proven tool for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare, health IT is essential to  healthcare reform policy. In preparation for the 111th Congress, Members are already engaged in healthcare reform deliberations, through such initiatives as the formation of workgroups and the development of healthcare reform reports. As part of his healthcare platform during the 

presidential campaign, Senator Barack Obama called for a $10 billion-a-year investment over the 

next five years to foster the broad adoption of health IT. In addition, as President-elect, Barack 

Obama is now considering including health IT as part of an economic stimulus package to be introduced in early 2009. Health IT, such as electronic medical records (EMRs), electronic health records (EHRs), personal  health records (PHRs), payor-based health records (PBHRs), and electronic prescribing (eprescribing), shows promise for transforming the delivery and payment of healthcare in the US,  and improving population health and the overall efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare. The electronic exchange of health information made possible through health IT enables providers,  payors, and consumers to effectively access health information, while reducing medical errors and eliminating unnecessary or duplicative healthcare services and costs. Recognizing the  benefits of health IT, federal and state governments, in collaboration with the private sector,  facilitate many initiatives to help foster the use of health IT.  Health IT holds great promise for healthcare throughout the US. The full benefits will be reaped when policymakers, including Members of Congress and the Administration, appropriately  address the following issues: 

• Leadership 

• Interoperability  

• Privacy and Security 

• Electronic Payments 

• Consumer Empowerment  

• Funding