Smith, McMorris Pass Health IT Amendment to Reduce Costs and Improve Health Care

Smith, McMorris Pass Health IT Amendment to Reduce Costs and Improve Health Care

Washington D.C. - Congressman Adam Smith (WA-09) and Congresswoman Cathy McMorris (WA-05) today offered a bipartisan amendment to H.R. 4157, the Health Information Technology Promotion Act of 2005. The amendment allows for the creation of a demonstration project that will provide a more efficient and effective system for managing disease by using health information technology on disease management for the Medicaid population. The amendment was agreed to by voice vote and was included in the final bill that passed by a vote of 270-148. The bill will now be sent to conference.

"Under the current paper-based healthcare system, patients and their doctors lack instant access to medical information," said Adam Smith. "This lack of connectivity and shared knowledge leads to medical errors, increased costs, and inefficiency. This demonstration project would leverage information technology as a tool to increase the efficiency of the healthcare system, improve the quality of care for Medicaid patients and it will decrease costs to states and the federal government, which are facing record deficits."

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

http://www.electadamsmith.com/node/79