The New Congress: Concerns for HIT Funding?

As you probably know, beginning in 2011, qualifying heath care providers will become entitled to payments of as high as $44,000 over a five-year period as an incentive to implement meaningful use of electronic health records.   Since the Republican takeover of the House last week, some have expressed concern about whether HIT funding is in jeopardy.   We believe these concerns are unfounded and that funding will begin in 2011 for the adoption of meaningful use of electronic health records, as provided by law. 

From its inception, health IT has received broad bi-partisan support, and the expectation is that the new House majority will not attack these funds.  We have spoken with a number of congressional staff on both sides of the aisle, and at this time, there are no known efforts underway to cut HIT funding.  We are certainly listening for any talk along these lines, because we understand that the HIT effort is very important to CompTIA members.

However, healthcare reform might not fare so well.  Both during and since the election, one of the principal themes of the new majority has been to repeal the healthcare reform law.  We do expect the House will call a vote on repeal of healthcare reform, which would most likely pass.  However, this effort will not be ultimately successful because of the Democratic-controlled Senate and/or the veto pen of President Obama – who sees healthcare reform as his signature accomplishment.  Following the House’s failure at a full repeal, we expect there will be further attempts to cripple healthcare reform, such as holding back funding for portions of the healthcare reform law.   Whether this tactic will prove successful is entirely unknown.

So, while there is much speculation about how the new House majority will carry out its pledge to cut spending, none of the chatter has involved healthcare IT.  So at this time, we expect that HIT incentives will begin in 2011 as scheduled.