Health Information Technology Receives Bipartisan Support

Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and John Ensign (R-Nev.) have both written articles in support of health information technology. Health information technology is a system where patient care information (as well as other health care information, including billing and insurance information) would be stored electronically, instead of on paper. For example, if the U.S. utilized health information technology, people who were displaced by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita would have complete care records on file electronically, and other doctors treating them would have access to their treatment history.

Although it may help save money in the long term, health information technology would be extremely expensive to implement in the short term, which I suspect is the reason why it hasn't been done already. But I believe that we will be hearing a lot more about this issue in the months to come.