In a new report, ITIF explores the benefits of using information technology in the health care sector, such as reduced medical costs, improved medical care, and increased access to personal health information. The paper reviews the obstacles that have prevented the widespread adoption of electronic health records (EHRs) and proposes a number of policy recommendations to speed adoption. Specifically, the paper discusses the benefits of establishing independent health record data banks as a sustainable and market-based approach to implementing EHRs. ITIF also recommends other methods to leverage federal resources to speed EHR adoption.

Improving Health Care: Why a Dose of IT May Be Just What the Doctor Ordered

Congress should direct HHS to implement a unique patient identifier as originally intended by HIPAA.

To Do: Implement a Unique Patient Identifier

A discussion about how medical data is used today and how policy can help create opportunities to promote data-driven medical innovations.

Medical Data Innovation: Building the Foundations of a Health Information Economy

A discussion of the importance of information technology for health care, featuring former Representative Nancy Johnson, Dr. Alan Lotvin, Senior Vice President, ICORE Magellan Health Services, and Dr. Edna O. DeVries, Central Division Medical Director, Marshfield Clinic. Rob Atkinson, President, ITIF and Daniel Castro, Senior Analyst will release a new report on how electronic health records can improve health care.

Congress should require utility providers to provide consumers access to their consumption data at no cost, in a timely manner, using an open standard.

To Do: Let Consumers Access Utility Data

Congress should explicitly allow utilities, telecommunications companies, and landlords to report on-time payments to credit-reporting agencies.

To Do: Promote Alternative Credit Data

As part of National Health IT Week, please join ITIF and a panel of experts for a discussion about the future of medical data sharing and the steps Congress and the next administration can take to reduce health information blocking, give consumers access to their medical data, and fully realize the benefits of the health information revolution.

The Future of Health Data Sharing: Giving Consumers Private and Portable Access to Their Own Medical Records

The United States and the United Kingdom commit roughly the same percentage of total public medical research funds to health informatics. However, the United Kingdom is uniquely positioned to benefit from advancements in health informatics research because it is significantly ahead of the United States in its transition to electronic health records among primary care providers.

The Role of Information Technology in Medical Research

We need to be thinking long-term about how to maximize the benefits of health IT and rethinking how we use IT to innovate in health care.

To Do: Incentivize Adoption of EHRs for Mental Health Providers

Recommendation

Details

Editors’ Recommendations

10 Steps Congress Can Take to Accelerate Data Innovation

Related

Improving Health Care: Why a Dose of IT May Be Just What the Doctor Ordered

To Do: Implement a Unique Patient Identifier

Medical Data Innovation: Building the Foundations of a Health Information Economy