Continuing on my review of ARRA Title XIII from a patient-empowerment perspective…
Part 2-Application and Use of Adopted Health Information Technology Standards; Reports
Section 13113. Study and Reports.
Looking at reimbursement, which in some respects all of this rolls up to. If managing blood pressure is only paid for if a patient physically walks into a doctor’s office, it’s hard to imagine how HIT will get adopted….
(b) REIMBURSEMENTINCENTIVESTUDYANDREPORT.— (1) STUDY.—The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall carry out, or contract with a private entity to carry out, a study that examines methods to create efficient reimburse- ment incentives for improving health care quality in Federally qualified health centers, rural health clinics, and free clinics. (2) REPORT.—Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall submit to the appropriate committees of jurisdic- tion of the House of Representatives and the Senate a report on the study carried out under paragraph (1).
Aging Services Technology Study – this is useful in getting us to the idea that every patient in every care system can participate in their care, as can those who support them.
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall carry out, or contract with a private entity to carry out, a study of matters relating to the potential use of new aging services technology to assist seniors, individuals with disabilities, and their caregivers throughout the aging process. (2) MATTERSTOBESTUDIED.—The study under paragraph (1) shall include— (A) an evaluation of— (i) methods for identifying current, emerging, and future health technology that can be used to meet the needs of seniors and individuals with disabilities and their caregivers across all aging services settings, as specified by the Secretary; (ii) methods for fostering scientific innovation with respect to aging services technology within the business and academic communities; and (iii) developments in aging services technology in other countries that may be applied in the United States; and (B) identification of— (i) barriers to innovation in aging services tech- nology and devising strategies for removing such bar- riers; and (ii) barriers to the adoption of aging services tech- nology by health care providers and consumers and devising strategies to removing such barriers. (3) REPORT.—Not later than 24 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of jurisdiction of the House of Rep- resentatives and of the Senate a report on the study carried out under paragraph (1). (4) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this subsection: (A) AGINGSERVICES TECHNOLOGY.—The term ‘‘aging services technology’’ means health technology that meets the health care needs of seniors, individuals with disabil- ities, and the caregivers of such seniors and individuals.
Subtitle B-Testing of Health Information Technology
Section 13202 Research and Development Programs
New multidisciplinary Centers for Health Care Information Enterprise Integration will be created in institutions of higher education (should these Centers, though, collaborate with health care enterprises that do this integration in the way they are structured?)
(4) RESEARCHAREAS.—Research areas may include— (A) interfaces between human information and commu- nications technology systems; (B) voice-recognition systems; (C) software that improves interoperability and connectivity among health information systems; (D) software dependability in systems critical to health care delivery; (E) measurement of the impact of information tech- nologies on the quality and productivity of health care; (F) health information enterprise management; (G) health information technology security and integ- rity; and (H) relevant healmedical errors.
Subtitle C – D is tomorrow…