Health tech bill expected
Reps. Tim Murphy and Patrick Kennedy plan to introduce a measure to boost the use of health information technology.
Kennedy 2004 health care IT bill
Rep. Tim Murphy (R-Pa.) and Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-R.I.) plan to introduce legislation on May 11 to dramatically increase the use of health care information technology.
The two representatives said their bill, the 21st Century Health Information Act, will be the first bipartisan legislation to address the "systemic obstacles and misaligned incentives" in the way of health IT adoption. Murphy and Kennedy, noting that political figures ranging from Newt Gingrich to Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) have touted health IT, expect their measure to appeal to both sides of the political aisle.
Last year, Kennedy introduced similar health care IT legislation, HR 4880, which was not enacted. That bill earmarked more than $2.5 billion for development of regional health information networks designed to serve as the foundation of a National Health Information Infrastructure.
NEXT STORY: Fox-y