Senate Panel Clears Post-Meaningful Use HIT Bill

With the future of the federal electronic health records incentive program now up in the air, a bill that addresses major complaints about Meaningful Use seems to be on the fast track to passage.

Tuesday, The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee passed the Improving Health Information Technology Act (S. 2511) by a unanimous, 22-0 vote, just one day after six senators officially introduced the legislation.

This legislation seeks to reduce the reporting burden that has plagued Meaningful Use — particularly the current Stage 2 of the program. It also would give the Department of Health and Human Services the authority to cancel the certification of EHRs from vendors that hinder interoperability by engaging in “information blocking.”