Doctors Get Dose of Technology From Insurers

Health-insurance companies including Humana and Aetna are stepping into the race to equip doctors with high-tech patient records. The lure: the estimated 80% of U.S. physicians and 90% of hospitals whose records are still on paper, and the $27 billion in federal stimulus money available to help these holdouts switch. The Obama administration last month outlined how doctors can qualify for the funds starting next year. Come 2015, doctors will be penalized under Medicare if they haven't computerized their records. Insurers are jumping into a feeding frenzy among companies that peddle health information technology. They are rushing to be picked by regional centers set up by the government to help doctors adopt technology, and by the American Medical Association, which is promoting a few preferred providers.