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Senate Democrats on the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee have introduced their version of health care reform legislation while negotiations with Republicans continue. The bill includes some information technology provisions, many of which complement the HITECH Act within the economic stimulus law.

The new legislation is on a fast track as Democratic leaders of the HELP and Finance Committees want bills on the Senate floor by July. HELP Committee Democrats and Republicans on June 10 and 11 will meet to discuss outstanding legislative issues, such as the public option (government sponsored health plans) and employer mandate. A public hearing is scheduled for June 11. Mark-up of the bill--the debating and voting on amendments and substitutes within committee before taking a vote to report the bill--will begin on June 16.

The HELP Committee bill as introduced would require development of standards-based, interoperable information systems to electronically enroll individuals in federal and state health and human services programs. Under the legislation, the HIT Policy Committee and HIT Standards Committee, created under the economic stimulus law, would play key roles in determining the standards and protocols to support standardized electronic enrollment.

The legislation also would authorize development of a "key national indicators system" of quality measurements and creation of a free public Web site to access the indicators. Information technology would be used to support collection and measurement of quality data at the point of care.

The bill authorizes expansion of demonstration programs to improve pediatric care through the use of I.T. Provisions in the bill would complement or augment the forthcoming definition of "meaningful use" of electronic health records and regional health information technology extension centers, both mandated in the economic stimulus law. The bill also calls for certain processes to quickly incorporate findings of best practices into clinical decision support software.

For text of the bill, click here.

--Joseph Goedert