Health IT Provisions in Senate Health Care Bill

The Senate's version of the health insurance reform bill passed 60-39 on December 24. Among its health information technology provisions, the legislation includes:

1) the establishment of standards to allow the electronic exchange of health information among long-term health care facilities;

2) directs the Health and Human Services secretary to develop a program to award grants or contracts to establish community-based health teams aimed at supporting primary care practices on a variety of health care services, such as the application of health IT to support medical homes;

3) requires HHS to create a Web site to let Medicare beneficiaries compare physicians based on quality measures and patients' perceptions of care; and

4) authorizes the release and use of standardized extracts of Medicare claims data.

(12/28)