WashingtonWatch.com - S. 1693, The Wired for Health Care Quality Act

Comment by Barb Clark , R.N. (January 3, 2008, 01:00:00)

Thu, 03 Jan 2008 00:00:00 EST

I am very concerned about the upcoming National Health Information Network. I have put up information about this on my web-site at dub dub dub BarbClark dot org....

Comment by Daniel Castro (October 30, 2007, 01:00:00)

Tue, 30 Oct 2007 00:00:00 EDT

ITIF, a non-partisan think tank recently released a report on the benefits of electronic health records, the current obstacles to adoption, and strategies to overcome these obstacles. One recommendation was to establish national standards for health information, which this bill will help establish. The report is available online at http://www.itif.org/files/HealthIT.pdf...

Comment by James Mhyre, MD (October 24, 2007, 01:00:00)

Wed, 24 Oct 2007 00:00:00 EDT

We have a budget at the federal level this year of $61M to support healthcare electronic communication. Canada will spend approximately $400M for similar services in 2007. Canada is farther along with their national health network. We recognize that more investment in infrastructure, standards, and interoperability is needed without wasting time and resources with too many false starts and orphaned projects. Can HITSP and AHIC lead the way? This bill should provide some funding to support those efforts. Maybe it will be Microsoft and Google setting the de facto standards and the federal government can stand down!...

Comment by safuller747@msn.com (October 19, 2007, 01:00:00)

Fri, 19 Oct 2007 00:00:00 EDT

Working in the health care industry for over 30 years I see so many areas of concern. Being part of an EMR/PM implementation team, working directly with hospitals and clinics on the operational workflow issues and seeing how 'symptom based medicine' as become the norm, directed by insurance on what and what can not be done for the patient, something has to change in order for the people in the U.S. to get quality healthcare at a reasonable cost. I will get off my soap box - but I am willing to assist in making this changes and I do believe that the electronic world is a major part of the solution. Thank you Shirley...

Revision by webmaster (October 10, 2007, 01:00:00)

Wed, 10 Oct 2007 00:00:00 EDT

S. 1693 would enhance the adoption of a nationwide interoperable health information technology system and it would improve the quality and reduce the costs of health care in the United States.

Detailed Summary

Wired for Health Care Quality Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to establish the Office of the National Coordinator of Health Information Technology.

Establishes a public-private Partnership for Health Care Improvement to recommend specific actions to achieve a nationwide interoperable health information technology infrastructure. Provides for the adoption by the federal government of standards for the electronic exchange of health information.

Establishes the American Health Information Community to provide advice to the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the heads of any relevant federal agencies concerning the policy considerations related to health information technology.

Authorizes the Secretary to award grants for the: (1) purchase of qualified health information technology systems; (2) implementation of regional or local health information plans; and (3) development of academic curricula integrating qualified health information technology systems in the clinical education of health professionals.

Requires the Secretary to provide for the development and use of health care quality measures to measure the quality and efficiency of health care that patients receive.

Extends health information privacy requirements to an operator of a health information electronic database. Gives individuals the right to inspect and obtain a copy of their protected health information stored in electronic format.

Directs the Comptroller General to report on the circumstances in which it is necessary and workable to require that individuals be notified if their individually identifiable health information is wrongly disclosed.

Requires the Secretary, acting through the Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, to develop a Health Information Technology Resource Center.

Status of the Legislation

Latest Major Action: 10/1/2007: By Senator Kennedy from Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions filed written report. Report No. 110-187.

Points in Favor

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Points Against

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Status as of October 1, 2007

Mon, 01 Oct 2007 00:00:00 EDT

10/1/2007: By Senator Kennedy from Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions filed written report. Report No. 110-187.

Revision by webmaster (September 13, 2007, 01:00:00)

Thu, 13 Sep 2007 00:00:00 EDT

S. 1693 would enhance the adoption of a nationwide interoperable health information technology system and it would improve the quality and reduce the costs of health care in the United States.

Detailed Summary

Wired for Health Care Quality Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to establish the Office of the National Coordinator of Health Information Technology.

Requires the Secretary to provide for the development and use of health care quality measures to measure the quality and efficiency of health care that patients receive.

Requires the Secretary, acting through the Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, to develop a Health Information Technology Resource Center.

Status of the Legislation

Latest Major Action: 8/1/2007: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 318.

Points in Favor

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Points Against

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Revision by webmaster (August 3, 2007, 01:00:00)

Fri, 03 Aug 2007 00:00:00 EDT

S. 1693 would enhance the adoption of a nationwide interoperable health information technology system and it would improve the quality and reduce the costs of health care in the United States.

Detailed Summary

(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to provide a detailed summary of the bill!)

Status of the Legislation

Latest Major Action: 8/1/2007: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 318.

Points in Favor

(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should pass!)

Points Against

(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should not pass!)

Status as of August 1, 2007

Wed, 01 Aug 2007 00:00:00 EDT

8/1/2007: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 318.

Revision by webmaster (June 28, 2007, 01:00:00)

Thu, 28 Jun 2007 00:00:00 EDT

S. 1693 would enhance the adoption of a nationwide interoperable health information technology system and it would improve the quality and reduce the costs of health care in the United States.

Detailed Summary

(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to provide a detailed summary of the bill!)

Status of the Legislation

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Points in Favor

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Points Against

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Revision by webmaster (June 28, 2007, 01:00:00)

Thu, 28 Jun 2007 00:00:00 EDT

S. 1693 would enhance the adoption of a nationwide interoperable health information technology system and it would improve the quality and reduce the costs of health care in the United States.

Detailed Summary

(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to provide a detailed summary of the bill!)

Status of the Legislation

Latest Major Action: 6/27/2007: Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

Points in Favor

(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should pass!)

Points Against

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Status as of June 27, 2007

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 00:00:00 EDT

6/27/2007: Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.