Government posts hospital cost data online

In a move to make information on healthcare costs publicly available, the government has posted information online on what Medicare pays for 30 common elective procedures and other hospital admissions. Date: 6/1/2006

Bill calls for Healthcare IT educational support

The federal government would award grants to fund education programs that aim to advance healthcare informatics under a bill to be introduced by an Oregon lawmaker.
Date: 5/31/2006

AHIP calls on Congress for ICD-10 extension

America’s Health Insurance Plans called for a delay in proposed updates to a medical coding system, saying the industry needs a three-year transition period to test the new codes and avoid an unnecessary increase in administrative costs.
Date: 5/30/2006

Groups urge funding for HIT use at community centers

The nation’s community healthcare centers that serve the bulk of uninsured and low-income Americans risk falling significantly behind other healthcare providers in their use of electronic medical records, a panel of experts told congressional staff.
Date: 05/15/06

House health subcommittee approves HIT bill

The House Ways and Means Health subcommittee voted 8 to 5 along party lines to approve legislation that would promote healthcare IT adoption, improving chances that a healthcare IT bill could pass in the House.
Date: 05/24/06

AMA official: Feds must do more to encourage HIT

The federal government must make substantial investments in healthcare IT and stop cutting physician reimbursements if the United States is to reap the benefits of a wired healthcare system, an American Medical Association official said. Speaking to attendees at the Towards the Electronic Patient Record conference, Joe Heyman, MD, secretary of the AMA, accused the government of sending mixed messages when it comes to healthcare IT adoption.
Date: 05/22/06