Government
N.J. passes measure to lay groundwork for HIT adoption
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Jan. 28, 2008
The New Jersey Legislature approved a measure that would establish a commission to recommend a plan to lawmakers for creating a statewide health information infrastructure. It also establishes an Office for e-HIT to develop and operate the plan, which will include the sharing of electronic health information.
The New Jersey Health Information Technology Act would not mandate electronic health records but would study questions such as how to deploy HIT in physician offices, said Assemblyman Herb Conaway Jr., MD, who sponsored the act. The commission should be sensitive to solo and small group practices, which would have a difficult time paying for HIT compared with hospital-based practices, he said.
The Medical Society of New Jersey supports the bill and will push for funding for physicians to pay for any system that is recommended, said its CEO Michael T. Kornett. At press time Gov. Jon Corzine had not signed the bill into law.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2008/01/28/gvbf0128.htm.
