National Health Information Technology Week

Floor Speech

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the fourth annual National Health Information Technology Week. Health information technology is a critical piece of health care reform.

The cost of our health care system is the main burden. As we look for ways to expand coverage to the millions of Americans who don't have it, getting costs under control is absolutely critical.

Health care information technology is one way to do that. If we can improve the quality of our IT systems and our health care system, we can improve the quality of health care for millions of Americans by getting better information to both doctors and patients more quickly.

Right now the system is woefully behind most other businesses in developing and improving IT. This House took an important step in the stimulus package passed last January by putting $19 billion towards improving health care information technology.

It's critical that that money is well spent. It is critical that we improve our health IT systems if we are going to improve the quality of our health care system for all Americans.

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