Budget Plan Includes Increased Funding for Health IT

President Obama's fiscal year 2014 budget proposal generally provides increased funding for health IT-related initiatives. The IT portions of Obama's budget do not appear to be controversial. Under the proposal, the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT would receive nearly $78 million for FY 2014 -- a 28% increase from the $61 million allocated for ONC in FY 2012.

That total includes:

• $56.3 million in public health service evaluation funding;
• $20.6 million in budget authority; and
• $1 million in certified electronic health record technology fees to support program activities.