Obama Administration Officials Say Studies Show HITECH Act Health IT Investment Justified
ONC Says Studies Prove Investment In Health IT Justified
Under the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH), part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, as much as $27 billion Medicare and Medicaid incentive payments will be available to eligible professionals, eligible hospitals, and critical access hospitals when they adopt certified EHR technology and successfully demonstrate "meaningful use" of the technology in ways that improve quality, safety, and effectiveness of patient-centered care.
On March 8, 2011, ONC researches reported results of a comprehensive review of recent studies it says show the effects of health IT on key aspects of health care on the ONC website and in Health Affairs. According to the authors, a current review of 154 peer-reviewed studies from July 2007 to February 2010 found:
- More than 92 percent reached positive overall conclusions on the effects of health IT;
- 30 percent found mixed but predominantly positive results; and
- Ten articles were found to have negative or mixed-negative results.
ONC reports that the review also reflected a new balance of evidence between HIT "leader" organizations and other entities, especially smaller medical practices. In previous years, much evidence has come from the "leaders." The current review shows increased evidence of benefits for others as well.
