The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee (Washington, D.C.) has passed "The Wired for Health Care Quality Act."
According to the Senate, the bipartisan bill will provide grants for providers who demonstrate a financial need to purchase health IT systems; grants for a low-interest loan program to get systems to "improve the quality and efficiency of healthcare," and for regional or local health information plans electronic information exchange.
Sponsored by Senators Edward Kennedy (D-Ma.), Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), the legislation is now the lead vehicle this year for debate on encouraging health care electronics adoption.
