FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 9, 2006
Contact: Christine Bechtel
Phone: 202-261-7569

Statement Supporting Recent House Action on Health IT Legislation

The American Health Quality Association (AHQA) is pleased that the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health and the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health have approved legislation aimed at increasing the adoption of health information technology.

As the national association representing quality improvement experts across the country, AHQA strongly believes that health IT is a critically important tool for transforming our system of health care into a high-quality, patient-centered system where every patient receives the right care every time. We support and applaud efforts in Congress that are designed to help more patients benefit from the promise of health IT such as electronic medical records and e-prescribing.

In every state and territory in the U.S. , Quality Improvement Organizations (QIOs) are serving as a field force for supporting this transformation in thousands of physician offices. Under a three year, performance-based contract with Medicare, QIOs are already working with approximately 3,500 physician practices to accelerate adoption of health IT and support the redesign of these physicians’ care processes in order to provide high quality care for every patient, every time. No other coordinated federal infrastructure in the United States is directly supporting health IT adoption and transformation on this scale.

In an additional effort to address health disparities, QIOs are reaching out to physicians in underserved communities to help these practices with health IT adoption as well. Nearly a quarter of the practices being supported by their local QIO treat significant numbers of underserved and minority patients.

AHQA also supports the legislative provisions designed to promote interoperable health information exchange. QIOs in at least 40 states are playing leadership roles in community-based efforts to exchange health information for quality, safety and efficiency.

AHQA hopes the full Ways and Means and Energy and Commerce committees will consider this legislation soon so that it may be brought to the House floor, paving the way for a conference with the Senate as soon as possible.

The American Health Quality Association is dedicated to improving the safety and effectiveness of health care. AHQA represents the national network of Quality Improvement Organizations (QIOs) that work with hospitals, medical practices, long-term care facilities, home health agencies, health plans, and employers to encourage the spread of best clinical practices and improve systems of care delivery. Visit: www.ahqa.org.