It Looks Like Brailer Will Have to Tighten His Belt

David Brailer, the national coordinator for health information technology, who, among other things, will hand out about $20 billion to docs and hospitals for electronic health record systems, will have to get along with a smaller budget in 2011.

In the omnibus appropriations bill approved yesterday, the Senate Appropriations Committee slashed funding for his organization to $38.7 million, from a budget request of $78 million. Brailer will pick up an additional $31.1 million from another Health and Human Services account, but that still leaves him down $9.1 million from the money he expected, if the Senate budget becomes law.

The House, in its continuing resolution passed last week, held most federal spending at 2010 levels, which means if its budget becomes law, Brailer will end up with $71 million, either way a net loss.