Health Train /stimulus

iHealthBeat reports today;   "Today in Denver, President Obama is scheduled to sign a $787 billion economic stimulus package that includes $19 billion for health IT that the House and Senate approved Friday, Healthcare IT News reports (Healthcare IT News, 2/17). The House passed the stimulus package by a 246-183 margin with no Republican support, and the Senate approved the package by a 60-38 margin with the support of three Republicans (Hitt/Weisman, Wall Street Journal, 2/14). Health IT Provisions The legislation would: Provide $2 billion to the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT, in part to support regional health information exchanges and establish regional extension centers; Require ONC to appoint...

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More Bailout Backwash

Move over Dr Leavitt!! Mark Leavitt has resurfaced rapidly after exiting stage left as the Obama administration takes over the center of government. He is now the Chair of the CCHIT, the body that certifies EMRs and information systems for interoperability. He and John Hamlaka as well as John Tooker, MD the head of the American College of Physicians write today in The Health Care blog about the progress of Health IT. It is an excellent read and accurately describes the present state of the ‘art’ and the forecasts and wishful thinking for the future. Their forecast is for better times for health IT. Much of this results from the recent economic chaos and misery stimulating our central government to hand out dollars guised as stimulants. Health IT needs will be included in the framework of...

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Mysterious Disappearance

For those of you who read my blog, my absence was due to technical problems, which have been fixed for the time being. I am awaiting my backup files to arrive. Writing a daily blog has it's short comings, when events change hour to hour amongst the pundits and political activists. Daschle's demise was probably devastating to Tom, since he had been an ardent supporter of Obama in his quest for the Presidency.  A " suitable "  replacement will be found quickly. Daschle did have the unique perspective of political expediency and healthcare knowledge to guide healthcare policy through the maze of the legislative process.    This is a real set back in terms of 'trust' and the workings of the congress.  The new secretary of HHS will have to start at the gate. ...

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