Prepared Statement of The Honorable Michael Bilirakis

Health Information Technology: Improving Quality and Value of Patient Care

Subcommittee on Health
July 22, 2004

Good afternoon. Today's hearing will provide the Subcommittee with an opportunity to learn more about the issues surrounding health information technology, and to hear about the Administration's new strategic information technology framework, which was released yesterday. We will also have the chance to better understand the potential that health information technology holds for improving America's healthcare system by reducing medical errors and improving the quality and cost of health care. The witnesses we have before us today will also be able to discuss the barriers that have slowed the adoption of this technology by hospitals, doctors, and other health care providers.

I would like to thank the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Tommy Thompson, for being here today. Sir, we all appreciate you taking time out of your busy schedule to discuss the framework for health information technology that you have developed at HHS. I applaud all of your efforts in this area. Since you became Secretary, I know that promoting the adoption of health information technologies has been one of your top priorities, and you have worked tirelessly to provide a framework for aligning and integrating information technology within the health business processes across the federal government. Again, thank you for coming, and I look forward to hearing your testimony.

Developing health information technology just makes sense. The healthcare industry has been dragging its feet in this area and is progressing much slower than other sectors of the economy. I was pleased that in the Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act (MMA) enacted last year included a provision that required HHS to adopt final e-prescribing standards by 2008. Additionally, MMA provides for grants to physician offices to enable the purchase of e-prescribing systems. While these are good first steps, there is so much more that needs to be done.

I look forward to hearing from the rest of our witnesses as well. We have two panels of experts in the field of health information technology, and I appreciate your sharing your insights with us this afternoon.

Again, thank you for being here today. I would now yield to the ranking member of the Subcommittee, the gentleman from Ohio, for an opening statement.

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