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[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 9 (Thursday, January 15, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Pages S616-S617]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Ms. STABENOW:
  S. 264. A bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to 
encourage the use of certified health information technology by 
providers in the Medicaid program and the Children's Health Insurance 
Program, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Finance.
  Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the E-Centives 
Act, which will help ensure safety-net providers serving our most 
vulnerable citizens can acquire Health Information Technology, HIT.
  As I have spoken about many times, HIT promises to transform the 
delivery of health care in the United States, improving the overall 
efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare. Some specific quality 
improvements that result from HIT include reduction in errors that come 
from illegible handwriting; electronic systems that prompt prescription 
of generic rather than brand-name drugs; reduction in duplicate 
diagnostic tests; physician reminders regarding appropriate preventive 
care; clinical decision support systems that encourage use of evidence-
based medicine; identification of drug interactions and patient 
allergies; and assistance to physicians to manage patients with 
complex, chronic conditions.
  While HIT holds great promise for transforming health care, 
unfortunately not all providers have the financial means to adopt and 
use this technology. In fact, the cost of acquiring technology is a 
major barrier to adoption among health care providers. Cost is 
particularly burdensome to small practices and safety-net providers 
that often operate with low financial margins.
  Several organizations, including the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid 
and the Uninsured and the Healthcare Information and Management Systems 
Society, recognize the essential role that the Federal Government must 
play to assist providers in the Medicaid and Children's Health 
Insurance Program, CHIP, to acquire HIT. But absent Federal funding, we 
could see a ``digital divide'' in health care.
  The bill that I am introducing today will help accelerate investment 
in certified HIT by providers predominantly serving Medicaid and CHIP 
beneficiaries. The bill accomplishes this by providing authority to 
State Medicaid programs to reimburse providers at the enhanced SCHIP 
FMAP rate for the costs associated with the meaningful use of a 
certified electronic medical record. This bill also helps streamline 
the administration and enrollment process for the Medicaid program by 
modifying the current regulation that governs the Medicaid Management 
Information System to include funding for electronic information and 
eligibility systems, patient registries for disease screening, and 
office staff training on electronic information and eligibility 
systems.
  I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure that all 
health

[[Page S617]]

care providers and all Americans can see the benefit of health 
information technology. Widespread diffusion of HIT is a critical step 
in health care reform and making sure every American has the most 
efficient, optimal quality care.
                                 ______
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