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Health IT Legislation Grows |
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Legislatures in 38 states introduced 121 bills aimed at promoting healthcare information technology in 2005 and 2006, including 36 bills in 24 states that passed and were signed into law, according to a report released by the eHealth Initiative, a consortium of health plans, healthcare IT vendors, providers, laboratories, pharmaceutical companies, medical-device makers and other healthcare organizations promoting IT use in healthcare.
Eight bills that passed in seven states contained appropriations to fund IT efforts. In addition, governors in 10 states have signed IT-related executive orders to develop IT planning and advisory programs. The report, States Getting Connected: State Policy Makers Drive Improvements in Healthcare Quality and Safety Through Information Technology, is available at www.ehealthinitiative.org. |