I sure hope the Congress gets a stimulus plan out soon. It’s a mess right now. Republican concerns about health portions have put comparative effectiveness research funding and health IT funding in jeopardy. There IS a risk of throwing money out there in ways that won’t move the needle. But, we’re still hoping there will be money to expand the business case for health IT adoption (pay incentives) in addition to loans.

Meanwhile Senator Burr has introduced a stimulus provision bill that would fix the SGRrrr for 2010 and 2011, and without raising the beneficiary Part B premium. He argues that would protect health care jobs and meet the stimulus requirements. Thanks, Sen. Burr!

Finally, we see language in the current proposed stimulus proposals that would allow funding of registries to improve quality based on the potential benefits to Medicare and to the jobs in IT that would created in the process. We will certainly get a proposal in for this area if something moves.

That said, there is growing concern that if this doesn’t move quickly -- and gets bogged down -- that nothing else will come out of this Congress. There’s a lot riding on Mr. Obama’s ability to get something out this issue soon.

< Back to Listings