He gave up the paper pad four years ago and now only writes prescriptions for patients electronically.
While Dr. Richard Smith can’t specifically quantify the results, he knows without any doubt that e-prescribing has generated efficiencies in his medical practice.
“As you accept it in your practice, it’s a phenomenal tool,” said Smith, an obstetrician with the Henry Ford Medical Group and president of the Michigan State Medical Society. Smith, who’s been in practice for nearly 30 years, is among a growing number of physicians in Michigan and nationwide who now use e-prescribing, as health care rushes to catch up with other industries in the use of information technology. A June report shows Michigan is one of the leading states in e-prescribing rates, ranking third behind Rhode Island and Massachusetts. It moved up from fifth in 2007 and three spots from two years earlier.
In 2008, doctors in Michigan ordered 9.03 percent of all prescriptions electronically - 4.2 million new prescriptions and more than 603,000 refills - more than twice that of 2007 and more than quadruple the 2006 rate, according to Surescripts, a national provider of electronic access to health information that issues the annual Safe-Rx Awards to the top 10 states. The use of e-prescribing in other leading states has grown by similar rates since 2007. The rate in Massachusetts, for instance, grew to 20.5 percent in 2008 from 13.43 percent the year before and 8.80 percent in 2006.
Advocates of e-prescribing suspect Michigan’s 2009 rate is now in the mid-teens and say it will continue to rise rapidly. “We’re on a continuum right now,” Smith said. “We’ll see more and more.” At Grand Rapids-based health plan Priority Health, the e-prescribing rate by participating doctors was 14 percent as of May, up from just 3 percent at the end of 2008, pharmacy administrator Steve Marciniak said. Despite the strong growth in Michigan’s e-prescribing rate the past two years, Health Alliance Plan’s Denice Asbell says advocates need to maintain the push to go much further.
“Nine percent leaves a lot of room for growth and improvement,” said Asbell, project manager of purchasing initiatives at HAP, a unit of Henry Ford Health System. Read More Electronic Prescription
Jul 31, 2009
EHR adopters could face series of tighter standards
There may soon be one more incentive for hospitals and physician offices to buy and install electronic health-record systems on or before 2011. The added push could come from the prospect of increasingly higher thresholds of initial federal eligibility requirements for EHR subsidies under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, according to discussions at today’s meeting of the Health Information Technology Policy Committee.
A work group of that committee delivered its first draft of recommended definitions of “meaningful use” of EHRs, a standard that providers must meet to qualify for subsidy payments estimated at $34 billion to be handed out by Medicare and Medicaid. The work group recommended instituting a series of increasingly complex meaningful-use requirements between 2011, the first “payment year” of the subsidy program, and 2015, the final year payments will be made before financial penalties for not adopting begin.
During those discussions, Anthony Trenkle, director of the CMS’ office of e-Health Standards and Services, said the requirements will not be “tiered” based on when the provider adopts an EHR after 2011. Instead, whatever meaningful use standards are applicable for the year the provider applies for an EHR subsidy are the standards that provider must meet, regardless of whether it is the provider’s first year of EHR implementation. Read More EMR
A work group of that committee delivered its first draft of recommended definitions of “meaningful use” of EHRs, a standard that providers must meet to qualify for subsidy payments estimated at $34 billion to be handed out by Medicare and Medicaid. The work group recommended instituting a series of increasingly complex meaningful-use requirements between 2011, the first “payment year” of the subsidy program, and 2015, the final year payments will be made before financial penalties for not adopting begin.
During those discussions, Anthony Trenkle, director of the CMS’ office of e-Health Standards and Services, said the requirements will not be “tiered” based on when the provider adopts an EHR after 2011. Instead, whatever meaningful use standards are applicable for the year the provider applies for an EHR subsidy are the standards that provider must meet, regardless of whether it is the provider’s first year of EHR implementation. Read More EMR
Jul 29, 2009
Editorial: Prescription abuse
Florida’s medical examiners recently reported that prescription medicines caused more deaths in 2008 than illicit drugs. The medical examiners also reported sharp increases in deaths caused by prescription tranquilizers and painkillers, such as Oxycodone and hydrocodone.
The results of the year-end report weren’t surprising. Since the middle of last year, physicians, pharmacists and law enforcement officials have warned of a near-epidemic of deadly prescription medicine abuse. In 2005, the Medical Examiners Commission began reporting the drugs discovered in bodies subject to autopsies. The percentage of decedents with at least one drug in their bodies has increased each year; to 53 percent last year.
“The vast majority” (4,924) of the 8,556 drug-related deaths studied last year by the state’s medical examiners involved the presence of more than one drug, according to the 2008 report. The presence of at least one prescription drug caused the death of 2,184 people last year.
To put the scale of those numbers in perspective, consider: There were 2,983 deaths on Florida’s roads last year; 1,169 of those fatalities were alcohol-related. Prescription drugs caused more deaths than alcohol-related crashes in Florida.
Of particular concern: Death-related occurrences of both benzodiazepines and oxycodone were up by more than 20 percent in 2008 compared with 2007. The drugs that caused the most deaths in Florida: oxycodone (941), benzodiazepines (929), methadone (693), cocaine (648), alcohol (489), morphine (300), hydrocodone (270). Read More Electronic Prescription
The results of the year-end report weren’t surprising. Since the middle of last year, physicians, pharmacists and law enforcement officials have warned of a near-epidemic of deadly prescription medicine abuse. In 2005, the Medical Examiners Commission began reporting the drugs discovered in bodies subject to autopsies. The percentage of decedents with at least one drug in their bodies has increased each year; to 53 percent last year.
“The vast majority” (4,924) of the 8,556 drug-related deaths studied last year by the state’s medical examiners involved the presence of more than one drug, according to the 2008 report. The presence of at least one prescription drug caused the death of 2,184 people last year.
To put the scale of those numbers in perspective, consider: There were 2,983 deaths on Florida’s roads last year; 1,169 of those fatalities were alcohol-related. Prescription drugs caused more deaths than alcohol-related crashes in Florida.
Of particular concern: Death-related occurrences of both benzodiazepines and oxycodone were up by more than 20 percent in 2008 compared with 2007. The drugs that caused the most deaths in Florida: oxycodone (941), benzodiazepines (929), methadone (693), cocaine (648), alcohol (489), morphine (300), hydrocodone (270). Read More Electronic Prescription
Standards Panel Backs Quality Measures for ?Meaningful Use?
On Tuesday, the Health IT Standards Committee approved quality measures and standards for how health care providers can demonstrate “meaningful use” of electronic health records by 2011, Government Health IT reports.
Under the federal economic stimulus package, hospitals and physicians who demonstrate meaningful use of EHRs will qualify for Medicaid and Medicare incentive payments.
The standards panel endorsed a matrix of 27 quality measures and 12 standards that build on each other to improve patient outcomes. The standards call for health care providers to use health IT tools for transmitting:
* Continuity of care documents;
* Discharge summaries;
* Inpatient and outpatient prescriptions;
* Laboratory test results; and
* Other structured health data.
The committee said health providers who have not yet adopted EHR technology could use certain unstructured data for 2011, provided that they work to eventually meet structured data standards. Read More EMR
Under the federal economic stimulus package, hospitals and physicians who demonstrate meaningful use of EHRs will qualify for Medicaid and Medicare incentive payments.
The standards panel endorsed a matrix of 27 quality measures and 12 standards that build on each other to improve patient outcomes. The standards call for health care providers to use health IT tools for transmitting:
* Continuity of care documents;
* Discharge summaries;
* Inpatient and outpatient prescriptions;
* Laboratory test results; and
* Other structured health data.
The committee said health providers who have not yet adopted EHR technology could use certain unstructured data for 2011, provided that they work to eventually meet structured data standards. Read More EMR
AMA Unveils Enhanced ePrescribing Learning Center to Provide Physicians Tools to Make Informed Decisions About Electronic Prescribing
Zero-In RX is a one-stop shop for electronic prescribing information and resources for physicians
Earlier this year the American Medical Association (AMA) launched a new online learning center to provide physicians with the information and tools they need to make informed decisions about electronic prescribing (ePrescribing). Today, the AMA unveils enhanced tools for ePrescribing and opens the site and all its resources to all physicians.
“A recent survey found about 30 percent of physician participants use an ePrescribing system in their practice. This is a sizable increase from the 13 percent who said the same at the end of last year,” said AMA Board Member Joseph M. Heyman, MD.
“With the current Medicare ePrescribing incentive and the promise of increased patient safety and practice efficiency, physician interest in adopting new technologies is increasing. We are glad to be able to offer physicians guidance on ePrescribing.”
The learning center includes a variety of tools and resources to help physicians, including calculators to estimate time savings and eligibility for incentive payments and planning tools to help determine practice readiness for and ease implementation of new technologies. Some of the new tools include: Read More Electronic Prescription
Earlier this year the American Medical Association (AMA) launched a new online learning center to provide physicians with the information and tools they need to make informed decisions about electronic prescribing (ePrescribing). Today, the AMA unveils enhanced tools for ePrescribing and opens the site and all its resources to all physicians.
“A recent survey found about 30 percent of physician participants use an ePrescribing system in their practice. This is a sizable increase from the 13 percent who said the same at the end of last year,” said AMA Board Member Joseph M. Heyman, MD.
“With the current Medicare ePrescribing incentive and the promise of increased patient safety and practice efficiency, physician interest in adopting new technologies is increasing. We are glad to be able to offer physicians guidance on ePrescribing.”
The learning center includes a variety of tools and resources to help physicians, including calculators to estimate time savings and eligibility for incentive payments and planning tools to help determine practice readiness for and ease implementation of new technologies. Some of the new tools include: Read More Electronic Prescription
Obama Continues To Tout Health IT as a Key to Health Reform
As President Obama continued his push to reform the U.S. health care system, he highlighted the Cleveland Clinic as a model for how effective health IT systems can improve care and lower costs, Healthcare IT News reports.
Obama visited the Cleveland Clinic on Thursday and viewed a presentation on the center’s health IT initiatives.
Cleveland Clinic executives also spoke with the president about patient-centered health IT projects involving Microsoft HealthVault, Google Health and MyChart. MyChart currently connects 202,000 patients to an online portal for appointment scheduling, prescription management, preventive health reminders and test results.
C. Martin Harris, Cleveland Clinic’s CIO and a member of HHS’ Health IT Standards Committee, said the center “is developing health IT that gives patients the power to better manage their health care.”
Harris added that the Cleveland Clinic is “focused on helping lead the nation toward a comprehensive electronic medical records system that will reduce medical errors, improve quality and lower costs.”
During a town-hall meeting later that day, Obama said the Cleveland Clinic has “one of the best health IT systems in the country.” He said the center’s electronic health technology allows it to: More Read EMR Stimulus Package
Obama visited the Cleveland Clinic on Thursday and viewed a presentation on the center’s health IT initiatives.
Cleveland Clinic executives also spoke with the president about patient-centered health IT projects involving Microsoft HealthVault, Google Health and MyChart. MyChart currently connects 202,000 patients to an online portal for appointment scheduling, prescription management, preventive health reminders and test results.
C. Martin Harris, Cleveland Clinic’s CIO and a member of HHS’ Health IT Standards Committee, said the center “is developing health IT that gives patients the power to better manage their health care.”
Harris added that the Cleveland Clinic is “focused on helping lead the nation toward a comprehensive electronic medical records system that will reduce medical errors, improve quality and lower costs.”
During a town-hall meeting later that day, Obama said the Cleveland Clinic has “one of the best health IT systems in the country.” He said the center’s electronic health technology allows it to: More Read EMR Stimulus Package
Jul 28, 2009
Standards panel aligns interoperability specs with ARRA
The Healthcare Information Technology Standards Panel has approved new interoperability specifications for electronic health records, data exchange and architecture that align with the federal government’s stimulus package for healthcare IT.
“HITSP has transformed its existing work to be completely aligned with the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA),” said John Halamka, MD, chairman of the panel. “These approved specifications represent the culmination of some 90 days and 13,000 hours of volunteer effort to meet the requirements of this landmark piece of legislation.”
Approved by the panel at its July 8 meeting are:
* HITSP/IS107 – Electronic Health Record (EHR)-centric Interoperability Specification
* HITSP/TN904 – Exchange Architecture and Harmonization Framework Technical Note
* HITSP/TN903 – Data Architecture Technical Note
* HITSP/SC108-SC116 – Service Collaborations
On April 7, HITSP began to leverage its 13 Interoperability Specifications (IS) and 60 related constructs to consolidate all information exchanges that involve an electronic health record system. The work was organized around ARRA requirements, specifically for the HITECH section.
HITSP formed temporary “tiger” teams to map EHR-related information exchanges to ARRA requirements. These teams identified “capabilities” – specific, implementable business services that use existing HITSP constructs to define and specify interoperable information exchanges. For example, the Communicate Hospital Prescriptions Capability addresses the interoperability requirements needed to support electronic prescribing for inpatient prescription orders. Read More EMR
“HITSP has transformed its existing work to be completely aligned with the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA),” said John Halamka, MD, chairman of the panel. “These approved specifications represent the culmination of some 90 days and 13,000 hours of volunteer effort to meet the requirements of this landmark piece of legislation.”
Approved by the panel at its July 8 meeting are:
* HITSP/IS107 – Electronic Health Record (EHR)-centric Interoperability Specification
* HITSP/TN904 – Exchange Architecture and Harmonization Framework Technical Note
* HITSP/TN903 – Data Architecture Technical Note
* HITSP/SC108-SC116 – Service Collaborations
On April 7, HITSP began to leverage its 13 Interoperability Specifications (IS) and 60 related constructs to consolidate all information exchanges that involve an electronic health record system. The work was organized around ARRA requirements, specifically for the HITECH section.
HITSP formed temporary “tiger” teams to map EHR-related information exchanges to ARRA requirements. These teams identified “capabilities” – specific, implementable business services that use existing HITSP constructs to define and specify interoperable information exchanges. For example, the Communicate Hospital Prescriptions Capability addresses the interoperability requirements needed to support electronic prescribing for inpatient prescription orders. Read More EMR
Obama losing favour with healthcare reform
United States President Barack Obama is battling slumping poll numbers as he tries to counter the growing criticisms of his economic and health policies.
Mr Obama has used a prime time media conference to defend his campaign to overhaul America’s health system, calling it vital to pulling the economy back from the brink.
It was his 10th news conference since taking office six months ago and the timing was critical.
The President held it during prime time in the US to guarantee a national television audience. And he did it in a bid to convince Americans and the Congress to back his ambitious health care reforms.
“This debate is not a game for these Americans and they can’t afford to wait any longer for reform. They’re counting on us to get this done. They’re looking to us for leadership and we can’t let them down,” he said.
With the US in a deep recession, unemployment rising and the deficit ballooning, healthcare reform is set to be Barack Obama’s biggest test yet.
Forty-seven million Americans do not have health insurance but the President’s far reaching plans to bring affordable health care to all Americans have left many worrying who will foot the bill.
The growing public unease with his approach is partly due to an onslaught from his Republican critics and some within his own Democratic Party remain sceptical.
But Barack Obama says the time is right for a health care overhaul.
“I’m the President of the United States so I’ve got a doctor following me every minute which is why I say this is not about me,” he said.
“I’ve got the best health care in the world. I’m trying to make sure that everybody has good health care, and they don’t right now. “ Read More EMR Stimulus Package
Mr Obama has used a prime time media conference to defend his campaign to overhaul America’s health system, calling it vital to pulling the economy back from the brink.
It was his 10th news conference since taking office six months ago and the timing was critical.
The President held it during prime time in the US to guarantee a national television audience. And he did it in a bid to convince Americans and the Congress to back his ambitious health care reforms.
“This debate is not a game for these Americans and they can’t afford to wait any longer for reform. They’re counting on us to get this done. They’re looking to us for leadership and we can’t let them down,” he said.
With the US in a deep recession, unemployment rising and the deficit ballooning, healthcare reform is set to be Barack Obama’s biggest test yet.
Forty-seven million Americans do not have health insurance but the President’s far reaching plans to bring affordable health care to all Americans have left many worrying who will foot the bill.
The growing public unease with his approach is partly due to an onslaught from his Republican critics and some within his own Democratic Party remain sceptical.
But Barack Obama says the time is right for a health care overhaul.
“I’m the President of the United States so I’ve got a doctor following me every minute which is why I say this is not about me,” he said.
“I’ve got the best health care in the world. I’m trying to make sure that everybody has good health care, and they don’t right now. “ Read More EMR Stimulus Package
Jul 27, 2009
At this time, EMRs have not yet shown their value
EMR, DICOM, SNOMED, HIPAA, CCHIT — how many readers can explain in detail what each of these means to their practice? While to date only a few more than 10% of us have fully adopted electronic medical records, by 2015 we will all face significant penalties if we are not fully engaged in this next government mandate.
We at Minnesota Eye Consultants are still delaying implementation of electronic medical records (EMRs), partly because the costs are staggering, the technology available for ophthalmology is in evolution, and especially because of the horror stories we have heard from so many of our colleagues who have made the attempt to go electronic in the past. I am concerned that the penalties may be significantly greater than just the astronomical cost of implementation and the potential for reduced reimbursement for those who are noncompliant.
I am now old enough to have a few medical maladies of my own — hypertension for one, well managed on medical therapy, and a few sports injuries requiring joint surgery. Just this last week, I visited my internist who is part of a large multispecialty clinic that adopted EMRs 2 years ago. As I sat in the examination room, first the nurse and then the physician recited a long list of required questions while seated in front of a computer monitor, the whole time intent on the monitor and keyboard, without once looking up at me as they completed the history. Clearly, to me, this was a major disconnect in the way I have classically interacted with patients in our currently non-EMR clinic. Of course, there was an examination and a little laying on of hands with a few follow-up questions. Then another 5 minutes for me to look at the back of my physician as the data was entered and the treatment plan formulated.
On a positive note, a summary of the plan of therapy was immediately printed and handed to me, and the physician, one of the best internists in Minnesota, did turn and look me in the eye as he went over the plan and answered any questions. Having a good relationship with this committed physician, I asked him what he thought about EMRs. After a long sigh, which was in itself the answer to my question, he conceded that on the positive side, EMRs were a potentially powerful tool for large multi-specialty clinics such as his, where multiple providers at multiple locations participate in a single patient’s care. All caregivers at all locations have access to all the data immediately once it is entered. He admitted it was also a constructive tool for monitoring physician productivity and patterns of care, providing a powerful data set to those managing and regulating our practices. Read More EMR
We at Minnesota Eye Consultants are still delaying implementation of electronic medical records (EMRs), partly because the costs are staggering, the technology available for ophthalmology is in evolution, and especially because of the horror stories we have heard from so many of our colleagues who have made the attempt to go electronic in the past. I am concerned that the penalties may be significantly greater than just the astronomical cost of implementation and the potential for reduced reimbursement for those who are noncompliant.
I am now old enough to have a few medical maladies of my own — hypertension for one, well managed on medical therapy, and a few sports injuries requiring joint surgery. Just this last week, I visited my internist who is part of a large multispecialty clinic that adopted EMRs 2 years ago. As I sat in the examination room, first the nurse and then the physician recited a long list of required questions while seated in front of a computer monitor, the whole time intent on the monitor and keyboard, without once looking up at me as they completed the history. Clearly, to me, this was a major disconnect in the way I have classically interacted with patients in our currently non-EMR clinic. Of course, there was an examination and a little laying on of hands with a few follow-up questions. Then another 5 minutes for me to look at the back of my physician as the data was entered and the treatment plan formulated.
On a positive note, a summary of the plan of therapy was immediately printed and handed to me, and the physician, one of the best internists in Minnesota, did turn and look me in the eye as he went over the plan and answered any questions. Having a good relationship with this committed physician, I asked him what he thought about EMRs. After a long sigh, which was in itself the answer to my question, he conceded that on the positive side, EMRs were a potentially powerful tool for large multi-specialty clinics such as his, where multiple providers at multiple locations participate in a single patient’s care. All caregivers at all locations have access to all the data immediately once it is entered. He admitted it was also a constructive tool for monitoring physician productivity and patterns of care, providing a powerful data set to those managing and regulating our practices. Read More EMR
Obama asks Americans to set aside health-care fears
WASHINGTON — facing possible defeat on his signature domestic policy priority, President Barack Obama appealed on Wednesday for Americans to put aside fears about health care reform and back sweeping changes that include the creation of a government-run medical insurance program.
During a prime time news conference in which he linked passage of health care legislation to the nation’s overall economic stability, Mr. Obama also claimed his administration’s controversial US$787-billion stimulus package and financial industry bailouts had all but rescued the American economy from collapse.
“As a result of the action we took in those first weeks (in office), we have been able to pull our economy back from the brink,” Mr. Obama said.
The president’s declaration of victory in the fight to save the economy came amid a wave of recent criticisms that the stimulus has done little to stem the tide of job losses. It’s expected the U.S. unemployment rate could rise above 10% later this year.
“We still have a long way to go,” Mr. Obama acknowledged. “I’ll be honest with you – new hiring is always one of the last things to bounce back after a recession.”
With Congress now wavering on White House demands to pass a US$1-trillion-plus health care bill before the fall, Mr. Obama warned a failure to overhaul the system now will lead to ballooning costs and force millions of more Americans to lose their coverage over the next decade.
“If we do not reform health care, your premiums and out-of-pocket costs will continue to skyrocket,” Mr. Obama said. “If we do not act, 14,000 Americans will continue to lose their health insurance every single day. These are the consequences of inaction.”
Answering Republican opponents who this week predicted the health care issue would be his “Waterloo,” Mr. Obama made a defiant prediction: “We will do it this year.” Read More EMR Stimulus Package
During a prime time news conference in which he linked passage of health care legislation to the nation’s overall economic stability, Mr. Obama also claimed his administration’s controversial US$787-billion stimulus package and financial industry bailouts had all but rescued the American economy from collapse.
“As a result of the action we took in those first weeks (in office), we have been able to pull our economy back from the brink,” Mr. Obama said.
The president’s declaration of victory in the fight to save the economy came amid a wave of recent criticisms that the stimulus has done little to stem the tide of job losses. It’s expected the U.S. unemployment rate could rise above 10% later this year.
“We still have a long way to go,” Mr. Obama acknowledged. “I’ll be honest with you – new hiring is always one of the last things to bounce back after a recession.”
With Congress now wavering on White House demands to pass a US$1-trillion-plus health care bill before the fall, Mr. Obama warned a failure to overhaul the system now will lead to ballooning costs and force millions of more Americans to lose their coverage over the next decade.
“If we do not reform health care, your premiums and out-of-pocket costs will continue to skyrocket,” Mr. Obama said. “If we do not act, 14,000 Americans will continue to lose their health insurance every single day. These are the consequences of inaction.”
Answering Republican opponents who this week predicted the health care issue would be his “Waterloo,” Mr. Obama made a defiant prediction: “We will do it this year.” Read More EMR Stimulus Package
Mass. bill would offer tax breaks for e-prescribing
A bill pending in Massachusetts has a goal of pushing more electronic prescribing in a state already tops in such activity.
The bill, introduced by Rep. Peter J. Koutoujian, would provide tax incentives to any corporation with licensed physicians that invests in e-prescribing technology. That would include physician practices.
Under the provisions of the bill, deductions would be allowed for the cost of the technology itself, any needed infrastructure and associated labor costs of installing the systems.
The state has been urging physicians to switch to electronic prescribing as a way of curbing rising health care costs associated with paper-based medical systems.
Sonya Khan, research analyst for Koutoujian’s office, said a hearing on the bill was held on July 8 before the revenue committee, which will send its recommendations back to the house later this year.
According to SureScripts, the e-prescribing health information exchange, Massachusetts ranked first for the percentage of prescriptions sent electronically in 2008 with 20.5%. The next highest was neighboring Rhode Island, at 17.3%.
A growing number of physicians are looking into adopting e-prescribing systems now that Medicare is providing incentives for using of the technology. Those incentives will turn to penalties in 2012. Read More Electronic Prescription
The bill, introduced by Rep. Peter J. Koutoujian, would provide tax incentives to any corporation with licensed physicians that invests in e-prescribing technology. That would include physician practices.
Under the provisions of the bill, deductions would be allowed for the cost of the technology itself, any needed infrastructure and associated labor costs of installing the systems.
The state has been urging physicians to switch to electronic prescribing as a way of curbing rising health care costs associated with paper-based medical systems.
Sonya Khan, research analyst for Koutoujian’s office, said a hearing on the bill was held on July 8 before the revenue committee, which will send its recommendations back to the house later this year.
According to SureScripts, the e-prescribing health information exchange, Massachusetts ranked first for the percentage of prescriptions sent electronically in 2008 with 20.5%. The next highest was neighboring Rhode Island, at 17.3%.
A growing number of physicians are looking into adopting e-prescribing systems now that Medicare is providing incentives for using of the technology. Those incentives will turn to penalties in 2012. Read More Electronic Prescription
Jul 24, 2009
Surescripts merger 1 year old as ARRA pushes e-Rx
This month marks the one-year anniversary of the merger of the two largest electronic-prescribing exchanges, SureScripts and RxHub, creating a market-dominant, privately held, for-profit company just in time for the federal government to all but mandate that physicians e-prescribe.
So, how is the merger going? The answer depends on who’s talking.
“The question you may be asking is, has the merger yielded any benefits and we’re happy to say, it absolutely has,” said Harry Totonis, CEO of the merged company, now called Surescripts.
Totonis only recently joined Surescripts—in April—after serving as head of adviser services at MasterCard, and previously working 14 years as a consultant with Booz Allen Hamilton, which works extensively in healthcare as well as for the federal government in defense and national security and intelligence programs.
“E-prescribing volume has just skyrocketed and we’ve handled that without adding a lot of new people,” Totonis said. “We’re processing twice as many transactions with relatively the same number of people. The efficiency we get is benefiting everyone.”
Justin Barnes is a vice president of Carrollton, Ga.-based Greenway Medical Technologies. In that post, he oversees corporate development, strategy, marketing and government affairs for the electronic health-record system vendor. Barnes also serves as chairman of the Electronic Health Record Association, a trade group for EHR vendors that is an arm of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society.
Vendors, Barnes said, while not hostile to Surescripts having such predominance, are “not completely comfortable” with the situation, either.
“It’s kind of pushed on us,” Barnes said. “When you have no competition, they may not want to listen to people. Competition breeds excellence at the end of the day. It always has and always will.”
The merger, which seems natural now, pooled the resources of two competing companies whose rival sponsors that either are themselves or have members that are still battling for market share in prescription drug sales. Both SureScripts and RxHub were formed in the aftermath of the 2000 bursting of the dot-com bubble that wiped out scads of e-prescribing startup companies. Read More Electronic Prescription
So, how is the merger going? The answer depends on who’s talking.
“The question you may be asking is, has the merger yielded any benefits and we’re happy to say, it absolutely has,” said Harry Totonis, CEO of the merged company, now called Surescripts.
Totonis only recently joined Surescripts—in April—after serving as head of adviser services at MasterCard, and previously working 14 years as a consultant with Booz Allen Hamilton, which works extensively in healthcare as well as for the federal government in defense and national security and intelligence programs.
“E-prescribing volume has just skyrocketed and we’ve handled that without adding a lot of new people,” Totonis said. “We’re processing twice as many transactions with relatively the same number of people. The efficiency we get is benefiting everyone.”
Justin Barnes is a vice president of Carrollton, Ga.-based Greenway Medical Technologies. In that post, he oversees corporate development, strategy, marketing and government affairs for the electronic health-record system vendor. Barnes also serves as chairman of the Electronic Health Record Association, a trade group for EHR vendors that is an arm of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society.
Vendors, Barnes said, while not hostile to Surescripts having such predominance, are “not completely comfortable” with the situation, either.
“It’s kind of pushed on us,” Barnes said. “When you have no competition, they may not want to listen to people. Competition breeds excellence at the end of the day. It always has and always will.”
The merger, which seems natural now, pooled the resources of two competing companies whose rival sponsors that either are themselves or have members that are still battling for market share in prescription drug sales. Both SureScripts and RxHub were formed in the aftermath of the 2000 bursting of the dot-com bubble that wiped out scads of e-prescribing startup companies. Read More Electronic Prescription
Obama sticks by healthcare IT in prime time plea for reform
President Barack Obama says the nation can use healthcare IT to dig itself out of the ever-increasing burden of escalating healthcare costs.
In his fourth prime time TV press conference Wednesday night, Obama said he would like to see a bill pushed through as early as this summer, but he won’t sign a bill that puts the majority of the burden on the backs of the middle class.
As Capitol Hill debates the merits of proposed healthcare reforms, the president has been lobbying for change, making almost daily speeches to educate the American public on what his reform plan would hold.
Obama and the Democrats have said two-thirds of the cost of the proposed healthcare overhaul would come from eliminating wasteful or fraudulent spending of taxpayer dollars. The remaining third is up for debate, with Obama recommending limiting tax deductions for the wealthiest Americans to match deductions available to middle class Americans. He said he is not sure if Congress will follow his advice, and the House is currently considering taxing Americans who jointly earn more than $1 million a year.
Obama’s speech and his answers to questions about healthcare reform emphasized that change must come, and it will involve the use of healthcare IT to eliminate duplicate testing, prevent medical errors, help monitor chronic care, encourage preventive care and help doctors know what care is most effective. Without these changes, he said, the nation will maintain a status quo that will bankrupt more families.
“Currently, 14 million Americans lose their health insurance every day,” Obama said. “This is about Americans who don’t have healthcare, and this is about every American who has ever worried about losing healthcare.” Read More EMR
In his fourth prime time TV press conference Wednesday night, Obama said he would like to see a bill pushed through as early as this summer, but he won’t sign a bill that puts the majority of the burden on the backs of the middle class.
As Capitol Hill debates the merits of proposed healthcare reforms, the president has been lobbying for change, making almost daily speeches to educate the American public on what his reform plan would hold.
Obama and the Democrats have said two-thirds of the cost of the proposed healthcare overhaul would come from eliminating wasteful or fraudulent spending of taxpayer dollars. The remaining third is up for debate, with Obama recommending limiting tax deductions for the wealthiest Americans to match deductions available to middle class Americans. He said he is not sure if Congress will follow his advice, and the House is currently considering taxing Americans who jointly earn more than $1 million a year.
Obama’s speech and his answers to questions about healthcare reform emphasized that change must come, and it will involve the use of healthcare IT to eliminate duplicate testing, prevent medical errors, help monitor chronic care, encourage preventive care and help doctors know what care is most effective. Without these changes, he said, the nation will maintain a status quo that will bankrupt more families.
“Currently, 14 million Americans lose their health insurance every day,” Obama said. “This is about Americans who don’t have healthcare, and this is about every American who has ever worried about losing healthcare.” Read More EMR
Obama seeks to blunt criticism, highlights potential benefits of reform
President Barack Obama moved to stem growing criticism of his blueprint to overhaul the U.S. healthcare system, warning a national audience not to “become consumed in the game of politics” and underscoring the potential benefits everyday individuals could reap under a wholly reformed system.
In a news briefing that focused almost entirely on healthcare, the president tried to put the focus on the personal rather than the political.
“My hope is, and I’m confident that, when people look at the cost of doing nothing, they’re going to say, ‘We can make this happen. We’ve made big changes before that resulted in a better life for the American people,’” Obama said.
Over the past three weeks, Obama’s push to fundamentally change how care is provided and paid for has come under attack from a bloc of fiscally conservative Democrats, stalwart Republicans and both right- and left-leaning interest groups.
Longtime policy shapers have begun to tie the president’s upstart reform efforts to one that failed spectacularly in the early 1990s. Such comparisons could prove to be as damaging as any legislative setback or missed deadline.
The president reiterated a pledge not to support any new taxes that would hit the middle class. His steadfast opposition to a tax on health benefits has rankled some lawmakers who had hopes of using such a levy to help defray the expected $1 trillion overhaul price tag.
“If I see a proposal that is primarily funded through taxing middle-class families, I’m going to be opposed to it,” he said. But, he added that he’s open to other tax proposals now being hashed out by congressional leaders. More Here EMR Stimulus Package
In a news briefing that focused almost entirely on healthcare, the president tried to put the focus on the personal rather than the political.
“My hope is, and I’m confident that, when people look at the cost of doing nothing, they’re going to say, ‘We can make this happen. We’ve made big changes before that resulted in a better life for the American people,’” Obama said.
Over the past three weeks, Obama’s push to fundamentally change how care is provided and paid for has come under attack from a bloc of fiscally conservative Democrats, stalwart Republicans and both right- and left-leaning interest groups.
Longtime policy shapers have begun to tie the president’s upstart reform efforts to one that failed spectacularly in the early 1990s. Such comparisons could prove to be as damaging as any legislative setback or missed deadline.
The president reiterated a pledge not to support any new taxes that would hit the middle class. His steadfast opposition to a tax on health benefits has rankled some lawmakers who had hopes of using such a levy to help defray the expected $1 trillion overhaul price tag.
“If I see a proposal that is primarily funded through taxing middle-class families, I’m going to be opposed to it,” he said. But, he added that he’s open to other tax proposals now being hashed out by congressional leaders. More Here EMR Stimulus Package
Obama sticks by healthcare IT in prime time plea for reform
President Barack Obama says the nation can use healthcare IT to dig itself out of the ever-increasing burden of escalating healthcare costs.
In his fourth prime time TV press conference Wednesday night, Obama said he would like to see a bill pushed through as early as this summer, but he won’t sign a bill that puts the majority of the burden on the backs of the middle class.
As Capitol Hill debates the merits of proposed healthcare reforms, the president has been lobbying for change, making almost daily speeches to educate the American public on what his reform plan would hold.
Obama and the Democrats have said two-thirds of the cost of the proposed healthcare overhaul would come from eliminating wasteful or fraudulent spending of taxpayer dollars. The remaining third is up for debate, with Obama recommending limiting tax deductions for the wealthiest Americans to match deductions available to middle class Americans. He said he is not sure if Congress will follow his advice, and the House is currently considering taxing Americans who jointly earn more than $1 million a year.
Obama’s speech and his answers to questions about healthcare reform emphasized that change must come, and it will involve the use of healthcare IT to eliminate duplicate testing, prevent medical errors, help monitor chronic care, encourage preventive care and help doctors know what care is most effective. Without these changes, he said, the nation will maintain a status quo that will bankrupt more families. Read More EMR Stimulus Package
In his fourth prime time TV press conference Wednesday night, Obama said he would like to see a bill pushed through as early as this summer, but he won’t sign a bill that puts the majority of the burden on the backs of the middle class.
As Capitol Hill debates the merits of proposed healthcare reforms, the president has been lobbying for change, making almost daily speeches to educate the American public on what his reform plan would hold.
Obama and the Democrats have said two-thirds of the cost of the proposed healthcare overhaul would come from eliminating wasteful or fraudulent spending of taxpayer dollars. The remaining third is up for debate, with Obama recommending limiting tax deductions for the wealthiest Americans to match deductions available to middle class Americans. He said he is not sure if Congress will follow his advice, and the House is currently considering taxing Americans who jointly earn more than $1 million a year.
Obama’s speech and his answers to questions about healthcare reform emphasized that change must come, and it will involve the use of healthcare IT to eliminate duplicate testing, prevent medical errors, help monitor chronic care, encourage preventive care and help doctors know what care is most effective. Without these changes, he said, the nation will maintain a status quo that will bankrupt more families. Read More EMR Stimulus Package
Jul 22, 2009
Industry Pushes Back on EHR ?Meaningful Use? Definition
When the government’s Health IT Policy Committee met a couple of weeks ago, some committee members suggested that a workgroup’s preliminary definition of “meaningful use” of electronic health records had gone too far. Now the official comments are in, and it’s clear that most of the healthcare industry agrees that the requirements in the workgroup’s first draft are overly aggressive. It will interesting to see what the committee comes up with when it reconvenes on July 16.
The “meaningful use” definition is of vital importance to the industry, because physicians and hospitals will have to show that they are using EHRs meaningfully in order to qualify for billions of dollars in government financial incentives. The committee wants to use its power to define the requirements to achieve certain policy objectives. But healthcare providers are concerned that they will be asked to do too much too soon. If the criteria to qualify for incentives in 2011, the first year of the reward program, are too stiff, not many providers will receive the maximum amount of government incentives.
In a letter to the Office of the National Coordinator For Health IT, Mark Leavitt, MD, and Alisa Ray, respectively chair and executive director of the Certification Commission for Health IT, succinctly summed up the problem:
“The lag between a decision to invest in EHR technology and its full, meaningful use in a provider organization is 1 to 2 years at best, and more typically, 3 to 5 years. For this reason, we believe most of the measures proposed for 2011 would be difficult to achieve by providers who have not already begun EHR implementations. Given current adoption levels, the incentives would only be available to a small percentage of providers, potentially provoking disillusionment and frustration with the ARRA incentive program.”
An AMA-led group of 81 medical specialty societies and state medical associations expressed a similar concern, noting that the committee’s timeline “is too aggressive, given that we continue to lack the necessary infrastructure, standards and systems.” Read More EMR
The “meaningful use” definition is of vital importance to the industry, because physicians and hospitals will have to show that they are using EHRs meaningfully in order to qualify for billions of dollars in government financial incentives. The committee wants to use its power to define the requirements to achieve certain policy objectives. But healthcare providers are concerned that they will be asked to do too much too soon. If the criteria to qualify for incentives in 2011, the first year of the reward program, are too stiff, not many providers will receive the maximum amount of government incentives.
In a letter to the Office of the National Coordinator For Health IT, Mark Leavitt, MD, and Alisa Ray, respectively chair and executive director of the Certification Commission for Health IT, succinctly summed up the problem:
“The lag between a decision to invest in EHR technology and its full, meaningful use in a provider organization is 1 to 2 years at best, and more typically, 3 to 5 years. For this reason, we believe most of the measures proposed for 2011 would be difficult to achieve by providers who have not already begun EHR implementations. Given current adoption levels, the incentives would only be available to a small percentage of providers, potentially provoking disillusionment and frustration with the ARRA incentive program.”
An AMA-led group of 81 medical specialty societies and state medical associations expressed a similar concern, noting that the committee’s timeline “is too aggressive, given that we continue to lack the necessary infrastructure, standards and systems.” Read More EMR
Ohio doctors slow to sign on to system that allows electronic authorization of prescriptions
Ohio doctors seem reluctant to give up their prescription pads, according to findings by Surescripts, the largest national prescription network.
The state lags far behind the nation’s leaders when it comes to sending prescriptions electronically over the network, which covers all major chain pharmacies, such as CVS and Walgreens, as well as 10,000 independent pharmacies.
In 2008, Ohio doctors electronically routed just 4.67 percent of prescriptions, Surescripts reports. Massachusetts tops the list for the second consecutive year with 20 percent — more than four times Ohio’s rate.
Electronic prescriptions, colloquially known as e-prescriptions, allow doctors to monitor and control treatment more efficiently. By getting rid of paper prescriptions and illegible handwriting, e-prescribing also reduces the risk of medical errors.
With the click of a mouse, doctors are able to pull up information about the patient’s insurance coverage when prescribing treatment. Easy access to comprehensive patient information allows doctors to prescribe alternative generic drugs to bring down the cost of medication, said Surescripts spokesman Rob Cronin.
The number of prescriptions routed electronically nationwide grew from 29 million in 2007 to 68 million in 2008, and the number of e-prescribers jumped 12 percent.
“One thing that gets the most focus with e-prescriptions is patient safety,” Cronin said. “The doctor can use software that provides them with a complete view of the patient’s medical history.”
Although the national rate of e-prescription use hovers at about 10 percent, John Halamka, an expert on e-prescriptions and chief information officer at Harvard Medical School, expects to see “rapid increases in e-prescribing volumes” next year, as use of electronic prescriptions will likely be a requirement for receiving stimulus money.
Barriers to adopting e-prescribing technology at hospitals and doctor’s offices include initial and long-term costs and confusion about competing product offerings, Halamka said. The cost to implement e-prescribing can range from $1,000 to $10,000 per physician in the first year and $250 to $3,000 in subsequent years. Read More Electronic Prescription
The state lags far behind the nation’s leaders when it comes to sending prescriptions electronically over the network, which covers all major chain pharmacies, such as CVS and Walgreens, as well as 10,000 independent pharmacies.
In 2008, Ohio doctors electronically routed just 4.67 percent of prescriptions, Surescripts reports. Massachusetts tops the list for the second consecutive year with 20 percent — more than four times Ohio’s rate.
Electronic prescriptions, colloquially known as e-prescriptions, allow doctors to monitor and control treatment more efficiently. By getting rid of paper prescriptions and illegible handwriting, e-prescribing also reduces the risk of medical errors.
With the click of a mouse, doctors are able to pull up information about the patient’s insurance coverage when prescribing treatment. Easy access to comprehensive patient information allows doctors to prescribe alternative generic drugs to bring down the cost of medication, said Surescripts spokesman Rob Cronin.
The number of prescriptions routed electronically nationwide grew from 29 million in 2007 to 68 million in 2008, and the number of e-prescribers jumped 12 percent.
“One thing that gets the most focus with e-prescriptions is patient safety,” Cronin said. “The doctor can use software that provides them with a complete view of the patient’s medical history.”
Although the national rate of e-prescription use hovers at about 10 percent, John Halamka, an expert on e-prescriptions and chief information officer at Harvard Medical School, expects to see “rapid increases in e-prescribing volumes” next year, as use of electronic prescriptions will likely be a requirement for receiving stimulus money.
Barriers to adopting e-prescribing technology at hospitals and doctor’s offices include initial and long-term costs and confusion about competing product offerings, Halamka said. The cost to implement e-prescribing can range from $1,000 to $10,000 per physician in the first year and $250 to $3,000 in subsequent years. Read More Electronic Prescription
Stimulus will provide $220 million for health care training
TOPEKA | U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis said Tuesday that $220 million in federal stimulus funds will be disbursed to programs across the country to train workers in health care and other high-growth industries.
Tuesday was the first day that training programs could begin applying for the money through the Labor Department. Solis unveiled the plan during a tour of the Shawnee County Community Health Care Clinic in Topeka and the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, Kan., saying health care services would be one of the fastest-growing career fields over the next decade as the population ages.
“We know there’s a shortage,” Solis said after touring the clinic.
She devoted much of her remarks to health care and President Barack Obama’s desire to push a health care reform bill through Congress this summer. She said such training grants were part of the equation, helping to provide an adequate work force to meet demands in rural states and areas seeing high unemployment.
Solis said $25 million of the funds would be reserved for training in communities hurt by the recent restructuring of the auto industry.
The stimulus money will go to public entities and private nonprofit groups that train workers in health information technology, nursing, long-term care and allied health careers. Read More EMR Stimulus Package
Tuesday was the first day that training programs could begin applying for the money through the Labor Department. Solis unveiled the plan during a tour of the Shawnee County Community Health Care Clinic in Topeka and the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, Kan., saying health care services would be one of the fastest-growing career fields over the next decade as the population ages.
“We know there’s a shortage,” Solis said after touring the clinic.
She devoted much of her remarks to health care and President Barack Obama’s desire to push a health care reform bill through Congress this summer. She said such training grants were part of the equation, helping to provide an adequate work force to meet demands in rural states and areas seeing high unemployment.
Solis said $25 million of the funds would be reserved for training in communities hurt by the recent restructuring of the auto industry.
The stimulus money will go to public entities and private nonprofit groups that train workers in health information technology, nursing, long-term care and allied health careers. Read More EMR Stimulus Package
Jul 21, 2009
Who really profits from digital medical records?
Dave Michaels reported from Washington, and Jason Roberson from Dallas.
An unprecedented effort to computerize the nation’s hospitals and physician offices could be the key to reducing crippling health care costs – or a giveaway to technology vendors whose sales will be subsidized by taxpayers.
Computerizing the paper-based world of medicine was a significant component of this year’s $787 billion stimulus package, which reserved $45 billion for hospitals and physicians to adopt electronic health records.
The Obama administration argues that electronic records will allow doctors to coordinate care for the sickest patients, eliminate errors such as adverse drug reactions and avoid duplicate lab and imaging tests. Medical errors alone cost the country $37.6 billion each year, according to the Institute of Medicine.
Despite years of technology development, most hospitals and physician offices, including those in North Texas, can’t electronically share information or even record patient data.
Data sharing confronts age-old assumptions that providers, not patients, own health records, which are valuable assets that can be used to obtain grants and market hospitals. It requires the government to decide what kinds of systems will improve care and how providers should use the systems to achieve that.
‘Meaningful use’
Congress dubbed that exercise “meaningful use,” and the government is taking most of this year to set the standards. The exercise is being closely watched by North Texas hospitals, vendors and consultants such as Plano-based Perot Systems and Addison-based MedHost Inc.
Some observers are concerned that the stimulus investment could be a bonanza for software vendors if the rules for “meaningful use” are too rigid and simply tied to buying software.
“Meaningful use is the whole shooting match,” said Richard Kneipper, a lawyer who co-founded Dallas health care information technology firm PHNS Inc. “The guts of the discussion will be how fast do you go?”
The first draft of “meaningful use,” produced by a federal advisory panel, resembled an approach advocated by the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society. The government’s draft, however, was more aggressive. Read More EMR
An unprecedented effort to computerize the nation’s hospitals and physician offices could be the key to reducing crippling health care costs – or a giveaway to technology vendors whose sales will be subsidized by taxpayers.
Computerizing the paper-based world of medicine was a significant component of this year’s $787 billion stimulus package, which reserved $45 billion for hospitals and physicians to adopt electronic health records.
The Obama administration argues that electronic records will allow doctors to coordinate care for the sickest patients, eliminate errors such as adverse drug reactions and avoid duplicate lab and imaging tests. Medical errors alone cost the country $37.6 billion each year, according to the Institute of Medicine.
Despite years of technology development, most hospitals and physician offices, including those in North Texas, can’t electronically share information or even record patient data.
Data sharing confronts age-old assumptions that providers, not patients, own health records, which are valuable assets that can be used to obtain grants and market hospitals. It requires the government to decide what kinds of systems will improve care and how providers should use the systems to achieve that.
‘Meaningful use’
Congress dubbed that exercise “meaningful use,” and the government is taking most of this year to set the standards. The exercise is being closely watched by North Texas hospitals, vendors and consultants such as Plano-based Perot Systems and Addison-based MedHost Inc.
Some observers are concerned that the stimulus investment could be a bonanza for software vendors if the rules for “meaningful use” are too rigid and simply tied to buying software.
“Meaningful use is the whole shooting match,” said Richard Kneipper, a lawyer who co-founded Dallas health care information technology firm PHNS Inc. “The guts of the discussion will be how fast do you go?”
The first draft of “meaningful use,” produced by a federal advisory panel, resembled an approach advocated by the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society. The government’s draft, however, was more aggressive. Read More EMR
Fate of healthcare up to Senate moderates
Could it be a reprise of the stimulus on healthcare?
There are certainly hints that moderate US senators of both parties could determine the fate of President Obama’s agenda yet again.
Obama is holding separate private meetings this morning to discuss healthcare overhaul with Senators Olympia Snowe, a Maine Republican, and Ben Nelson, a Nebraska Democrat. They are among the senators being targeted by new TV ads, launched by Obama’s grassroots organization, that say “it’s time” for healthcare reform.
Nelson and Snowe’s fellow moderate senator from Maine, Susan Collins, played a key role in negotiations to win Senate approval in February for the $787 billion economic recovery package championed by Obama. The stimulus bill passed the House without a single Republican vote, and the administration’s horse-trading focused on satisfying Nelson and Collins, who pushed for a smaller package.
After meeting with Obama, Snowe said the president repeated his wish for Congress to pass a bill before its August recess. “He’s determined to have that happen,” she said on MSNBC.
But Snowe said it’s more important to get bipartisan consensus in the Senate Finance Committee, especially on how to pay for the bill. Supporting a Senate vote in September, she also said she wants to give ample time for all senators and the public to review the bill.
“This deserves a thoughtful process,” she said.
Asked about Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus saying today that Obama had hindered his efforts to reach a bipartisan deal by opposing a tax on some employer-provided health insurance benefits to help pay for the deal, Snowe said it would be helpful if Obama endorsed a financing approach.
The panel is “working mightily” to find “offsets” and other savings to reduce the cost of the bill. “It’s all part of building a consensus,” she said. Read More EMR Stimulus Package
There are certainly hints that moderate US senators of both parties could determine the fate of President Obama’s agenda yet again.
Obama is holding separate private meetings this morning to discuss healthcare overhaul with Senators Olympia Snowe, a Maine Republican, and Ben Nelson, a Nebraska Democrat. They are among the senators being targeted by new TV ads, launched by Obama’s grassroots organization, that say “it’s time” for healthcare reform.
Nelson and Snowe’s fellow moderate senator from Maine, Susan Collins, played a key role in negotiations to win Senate approval in February for the $787 billion economic recovery package championed by Obama. The stimulus bill passed the House without a single Republican vote, and the administration’s horse-trading focused on satisfying Nelson and Collins, who pushed for a smaller package.
After meeting with Obama, Snowe said the president repeated his wish for Congress to pass a bill before its August recess. “He’s determined to have that happen,” she said on MSNBC.
But Snowe said it’s more important to get bipartisan consensus in the Senate Finance Committee, especially on how to pay for the bill. Supporting a Senate vote in September, she also said she wants to give ample time for all senators and the public to review the bill.
“This deserves a thoughtful process,” she said.
Asked about Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus saying today that Obama had hindered his efforts to reach a bipartisan deal by opposing a tax on some employer-provided health insurance benefits to help pay for the deal, Snowe said it would be helpful if Obama endorsed a financing approach.
The panel is “working mightily” to find “offsets” and other savings to reduce the cost of the bill. “It’s all part of building a consensus,” she said. Read More EMR Stimulus Package
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