Group says Americans want more federal money for medical IT

A group that advocates innovation in health care has released a poll showing broad support among Americans for increased government funding for research and development into new medical technologies.

The Council for American Medical Innovation sponsored the poll that found that 58 percent of respondents say the federal government should spend more money on medial innovation. Failure to spend more on medical technology and research will hamstring the country's future development and economic growth, said 72 percent of respondents.

And nearly 80 percent of respondents said they favor research and development tax credits; "government reforms to bring new innovations to market faster and at lower costs;" developing public-private partnerships between government and research institutions; and creating incentives to promote exports of medical technology and other innovation.

In a statement released Wednesday, the council urged federal officials to increase investments in medical technology and health care innovation.

"Never before in our history has there been a greater opportunity to create jobs, grow our economy and deliver the treatments, cures and breakthroughs necessary to combating the world's most pressing medical challenges," council co-chairman Dick Gephardt, a former U.S. representative from Missouri who served as House Democratic leader in the 1990s, said in a statement.

The 2009 economic stimulus package included billions of dollars to help spur health information technology and the adoption of electronic medical records.

The poll surveyed about 1,000 adults by telephone from Jan. 6-10. It has a margin of error is plus or minus 3.1 percent.