The Bush Administration, their Republican and Democratic friends in Congress and their hi-tech contributors are pushing for (meaning mandating and funding with tax money) the creation of an electronic medical records national infrastructure. This effort follows an Executive Order from Bush that turned into bi-partisan legislation in the House and Senate. This new system is 'supposed' to save us billions in healthcare costs by making the system more efficient. The House bill is H.R. 4157, the "Health Information Technology Promotion Act." and has not passed yet. The Senate bill passed at the end of last year.
CBO estimated the cost of the health IT bill that passed the Senate to be $652 million over the 5 years 2006-2010 with no offsetting savings. The president’s 2007 budget has increased outlays for 2007 by another $6 million. So, more tax monies will be going to help create the system that is supposed to save us billions of dollars. Although it was touted as a plan to save us billions of dollars, the budget actually does not say it will save money. It says that,
"The Administration supports the adoption of health information technology
(IT) as a normal cost of doing business to ensure patients receive
high-quality care."
Further it states that "the Administration's goal is to promote conditions for a thriving free market."
Imagine a government mandated and tax payer supported system ‘promoting’ the conditions for a free market. This is just more Orwellian double speak from the Administration who is now famous for such creative use of language.
This is just more corporate welfare and anti-free market managed economic planning where the profits are privatized ( hi tech companies) and the costs are socialized (tax payers). Another example of the medical industrial complex at work.
For more information:
Uncle Sam Watch: Big Brother & Your Medical Records by Liz Moser, Town Hall
http://www.townhall.com/blogs/c-log/LizMoser/story/2006/02/06/185452.html
AAPS Letter in opposition to H.R. H.R. 4157, the “Health Information Technology Promotion Act”.
http://www.aapsonline.org/confiden/hr4157-letter.php
Michael D. Ostrolenk