The Politics of Health IT

With the presidential election quickly approaching, healthcare professionals may have a new reason to closely follow the results. Politics has played a major role in Health IT funding over the past 8 years—starting in 2004 when President George W. Bush doubled funding for federal demonstration projects on healthcare.

According to Healthcare IT news, Bush also recommended the adoption of EHRs within 10 years and created the sub-Cabinet position of National Coordinator for Health Information Technology—to make these goals a reality.

In 2009 President Obama signed the “American Recovery and Reinvestment Act”. This Act is estimated to top $800 Billion in stimulus spending over 10 years and has been the primary funding source for CMS’s EHR Meaningful Use reimbursements which have totaled over $7 billion to date.

View the Healthcare IT News slideshows “Health IT Held Hostage to Politics” for a review of the past eight years’ ups and downs in funding—as well as the recent call to halt the EHR incentive program.