Report: Interoperability key to electronic health overhaul

As congressional leaders work on language to incentivize a nationwide system of electronic health records into a stimulus package and upcoming healthcare legislation, Booz Allen Hamilton and the Federation of American Hospitals today urged that lawmakers find ways to enhance the flow of health data and communications among patients and providers. They want Congress to get this done instead of focusing only on the adoption of electronic medical records.

The groups warned in a report that health IT efforts cannot occur in a vacuum -- and even when data is electronic, it is not automatically shared "outside of organizational or network firewalls, or across organizational boundaries." Concerns about interoperability were a major component of health IT discussions on Capitol Hill last year, and various proposals were incorporated into bills that came before both chambers.

Attention to eliminating paper-based records in areas such as prescriptions, lab results and medical imaging is critical as more attention is paid to facilitating electronic health systems, the report stated. The organizations called for reforming payment systems; defining, implementing and creating standards for a national health information exchange; fast-tracking a nationwide e-prescribing network; and assuring availability of pharmacy, lab and imaging histories at the point of care.

To create a "patient-centered" healthcare system, individuals must be granted consistent, secure, and timely access to their health records and the ability to communicate with clinicians about it, the report said. The document suggests creating a voluntary authentication system whereby individuals can choose a unique personal identifier for purposes of care and research.

The report follows the unveiling of a bill Friday, sponsored by Sens. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., and Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, that is likely to be the first of many health IT bills. The measure would create a grant program for healthcare providers to help cover costs for the purchase, lease or installation of software and hardware. Grants would be targeted toward "safety-net" providers that see a high percentage of Medicare, Medicaid, and State Children's Health Insurance Program beneficiaries and rural providers.

The senators also sent a letter to President-elect Obama encouraging him to incorporate their proposal in the upcoming recovery package. Legislative strategies for advancing health IT will be discussed Thursday when Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., will chair a Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing on the topic.