Alan Greenblatt is a GOVERNING correspondent.
E-mail: mailbox@governing.comTwitter: @governing
Health & Human Services
Reform Storm: Governors Feel the Heat on Health IT
The Bush administration is pushing health providers to get up to speed on information technology, and it wants states to help. President Bush issued an executive order in August directing federal agencies to demand that health vendors step up their use of IT to make quality and price information more transparent, and U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt has been lobbying governors to do likewise.
The administration seeks to use government's power as a major purchaser of health coverage to promote sharing of information about quality of care, as well as the prices paid to doctors and hospitals. That way, employees will be able to comparison shop. "People don't have a clue how much they pay," Leavitt said at a National Governors Association meeting, "and the reality is they don't know whether it's any good."
Leavitt has been lobbying governors and Fortune 100 company executives to push providers and insurers to abide by quality and IT standards that are being developed by independent commissions. He estimates that by the end of the year, "we'll at least have the capacity to make it work."
Leavitt's message is finding a receptive audience among governors worried both about health care costs and the medical profession's resistance to technology. At least 10 have issued executive orders requesting the development of health IT strategies. Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, for example, announced a new program to give performance bonuses to providers who meet quality standards. Pawlenty believes this will eventually save the state and insurers $153 million per year.
If you enjoyed this post, subscribe for updates.
Latest from Health & Human Services
- Which States Accepted the Most Refugees in 2012?
- Millions of federal dollars flow every year through the states and a network of relief organizations to help refugees find housing, health care and jobs.
- Fact vs. Fiction: Arkansas' Game-Changing Medicaid Expansion Plan
- A lot of information is floating around about the state's first-of-its-kind plan to expand Medicaid under Obamacare. Arkansas' Medicaid director sets the record straight.
- Program Keeps Seniors from Unnecessary Psychiatric Admissions
- Too many times, state officials say, nursing home residents wrongly end up in psychiatric care.
- More States Explore Tanning Bed Bans for Teens
- California, Vermont and New York all enacted their bans in 2012, and in the current legislative session, lawmakers in 29 states have introduced measures that would tighten restrictions on teen tanning.
- Bill Linking Welfare to Grades Passes Tennessee House
- After a lengthy and passionate debate, a House committee approved legislation that would reduce welfare benefits for families whose children are failing school.
Jobs in Health
Browse thousands of available health jobs. Find a health job with detailed, free information on key career areas in health. Or post a job.
View or Post Health Jobs
Human Services Newsletter
Our monthly email newsletter offers an overview of developments and issues relating to the delivery of social services such as welfare and health care.
View Sample
Subscribe to GOVERNING Newsletters
Twitter
Facebook
LinkedIn
YouTube
Flickr
RSS
© 2011 e.Republic, Inc. All Rights reserved. |