Government

Senate health IT bill introduced

NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted July 4, 2005

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A bipartisan group of senators unveiled a bill last month that would encourage physicians to adopt electronic medical records systems by relaxing certain federal rules that could pose barriers.

The "Health Technology to Enhance Quality Act of 2005," authored by Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, MD, (R, Tenn.), and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D, N.Y.), would allow narrow exceptions to the "Stark" self-referral and antikickback statutes to let hospitals, health plans and others offer health information technology equipment to doctors. Physicians would also receive exemptions from antitrust laws in order to band together to buy EMR systems.

The legislation would provide $125 million annually for five years to help medical professionals and others buy technology products. Dr. Frist said he hopes to pass the bill within 18 months after consulting with the sponsors of other health IT bills.

Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2005/07/04/gvbf0704.htm.

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