What Do Newt Gingrich And Hillary Clinton Agree On? Fed Money For Health ITWhat Do Newt Gingrich And Hillary Clinton Agree On? Fed Money For Health IT

A bill that promotes federal grants to finance regional efforts to adopt health information technology was introduced into Congress on Wednesday. But the bill also calls on federal certification of health-care information systems to qualify for funding.

Sponsors of the 21st Century Health Information Act of 2005 (H.R. 2234) include Reps. Patrick Kennedy, D-R.I., and Tim Murphy, R-Pa. Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., who spoke at the public unveiling of the act Wednesday, plans to introduce a Senate version of the bill, a spokeswoman for Kennedy says.

Also on hand to symbolize bipartisan support for the bill was former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. Gingrich is founder of the Center for Health Transformation, "a collaboration of leaders" dedicated improving the U.S. health system through widespread adoption of technology. "My theory is, any time you get Hillary Clinton and Newt Gingrich on the same stage you must be on to something," Kennedy said.

The bill would finance the development and implementation of regional health information organizations, which aim to facilitate the sharing of patient health information across providers in a state or community. Work to develop the organizations already is under way in several states, including Indiana and Massachusetts; however, many details--such as how they should operate and who should fund them--are still being worked out. The bill attempts to address some of those issues.

The legislation proposes to provide federal grants for the organizations to develop and implement regional IT plans. However, the bill proposes that in order for them to qualify for the funding, they should be accredited in a process to be determined by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Other funding proposed by the bill includes financial assistance to physicians for the deployment of IT as part of their participation in regional health information organizations, and also loans to accredited organizations for infrastructure, technology, training, and workflow engineering for physicians.

The bill also proposes the creation of a nation "technical assistance" center for physicians participating in regional health information organizations and a requirement that IT purchased with federal funds be certified by an HHS certification commission for health IT.

This is the second bipartisan bill introduced into Congress this year addressing national adoption of health IT. In February, Reps. Charles Gonzalez, D-Texas, and John McHugh, R-N.Y., introduced the National Health Information Incentive Act (H.R. 747).

The National Alliance for Health Information Technology, an industry group that's also promoting the adoption of health-care IT, said in a statement that while it's uncertain whether either of the proposed bills will pass, their bipartisan introduction into Congress creates "jumping-off points" for discussion, with hope that related provisions will be included in "alternative legislation."

The introduction of the 21st Century Health Information Act of 2005 came on the same day as the release of an HHS report that includes recommendations from a panel of nine CEOs for "urgent" adoption of IT by the health-care industry to help reduce soaring health-care costs and improve patient quality of care.

In its report, the Health Information Technology Leadership Panel said it came to six "conclusions" to "guide" the adoption of health IT by the federal government and the private sector.

The report concludes the following: The potential benefits of health IT far outweigh manageable costs; health IT needs a clear, broadly motivating vision and practical adoption strategy; the federal government should provide leadership, and industry will engage and follow; lessons of adoption and success of IT in other industries should inform and enhance adoption of health IT; stakeholder incentives must be aligned to foster health IT adoption; among its multiple stakeholders, the consumer--including individual beneficiaries, patients, family members, and the public at large--is key to adoption of health IT and realizing its benefits.

HHS said in a statement that the CEOs who participated in the panel where chosen because of the "substantial amount of health care" their companies purchase for their employees. The CEOs who participated on the panel included Fred Smith, CEO of the FedEx; Rick Wagoner, CEO of General Motors; John Faraci, CEO of International Paper; John Barth, CEO of Johnson Controls; Robert J. Ulrich, CEO of Target; Steve Reinemund, CEO of PepsiCo; Alan G. Lafley, CEO of Procter & Gamble; Richard Kovacevich, CEO of Wells Fargo; and David Glass, former CEO of Wal-Mart.