Joint Letter Urging Differences To Be Resolved in HR 4157 and S 1418 and To Submit A Unified Bill Before Congress Adjourns
October 11, 2006
Dear Conferee:
Legislation to support interoperable health information technology and health information exchange to drive improvement in the quality, safety and efficiency of healthcare now pending before the Congress provides a unique opportunity to create a better healthcare system for patients in communities across America.
We commend you for your leadership in advancing the agenda and urge completion of this critical goal.
In recent letters, the undersigned organizations have communicated our priorities for this legislation that include initial and sustained funding; HIE study language; safe harbors that support interoperability; codification of the role of the federal government; specific standards and interoperability provisions; and quality measures vetted by a multi-stakeholder process.
Going forward, we the undersigned, urge the Conference Committee to move expeditiously to resolve differences in HR 4157 and S 1418 and submit a unified bill for approval by the full House and Senate before the 109th Congress adjourns. Seizing this important opportunity will move us one step closer to transforming a disconnected health system to one that promises substantial improvements in quality, safety and efficiency for America’s patients and higher value for private and public payers.
Sincerely,
American Academy of Pediatrics
American College of Emergency Physicians
American College of Physicians
American Health Information Management Association
American Electronics Association
CalRHIO
Cisco
Covisint
College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME)
Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA)
DaimlerChrysler Corporation
Dell, Inc.
Eastman Kodak Company
EDS
eHealthConnecticut
eHealth Initiative
Emdeon Corporation
Healthcare Quality Strategies, Inc
IBM
Inland Northwest Health Services
Intel
MinuteClinic
National Association of Manufacturers
National Business Coalition on Health
National Business Group on Health
Northwest Physicians Network
Oracle Corporation
Quovadx, Inc.
Siemens
Sun Microsystems, Inc.
SureScripts, LLC
Taconic Health Information Network Community (THINC)
Taconic IPA
Technology CEO Council
The American Health Quality Association
The ERISA Industry Committee
Thomson Medstat
US Chamber of Commerce
WebMD Health Corp.
Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services
Policy Highlights
(September 2009)Public Policy Virtual Library
The Public Policy Virtual Library (PPVL) is a repository of ACP's current and historic policies and the Policy Compendium.
ACP Services, Inc.
ACP Services is committed to providing additional advocacy efforts on behalf of internists.