Health Law

Obama and McCain Support Health IT Adoption

By Helen Oscislawski

As Election Day rapidly approaches, I thought that it would be interesting to note the presidential candidates' views on health information technology.  In short, both Barack Obama and John McCain appear to support and include health care IT adoption as a major part of their health care reform plans.

I have visited and reviewed each candidates' respective websites, and noted that McCain's plan includes general support for the rapid deployment of 21st century information systems and technology that would allow doctors to practice across state lines.  Obama's plan specifically includes allocating $10 billion annually for five years to help physicians and other health care providers adopt health IT.  The Obama-Biden plan also notes that a study by the Rand Corporation found that if most hospitals and doctors offices adopted electronic health records, up to $77 billion of savings would be realized each year through improvements such as reduced hospital stays, avoidance of duplicative and unnecessary testing, more appropriate drug utilization, and other efficiencies.

To read more about the McCain-Palin Health Care Plan, click here.

To read more about the Obama-Biden Health Care Plan, click here.

Full post as published by HIPAA Health Law & Technology on September 30, 2008 (boomark / email).