On September 15, 2008, Representative Pete Stark, Chairman of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health, introduced the Health-e Information Technology Act of 2008 (H.R.6898). 

As introduced, H.R.6898 would codify the Office of National Coordinator for Health Information Technology within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and create a Health IT Advisory Committee.  In consultation with the Health IT Advisory Committee, the Office of National Coordinator would be charged with making recommendations to the Secretary of HHS for issuing standards in areas such as interoperability, privacy/security, and maximizing the clinical utility of Health IT. 

H.R.6898 would require that the Secretary of HHS finalize the first generation of these standards (through rulemaking) by September 2011.  The Office of National Coordinator would also be responsible for developing an electronic medical record system based on open source technology, which would have to be available 9 months after the first generation of the Health IT standards are approved.

Through the Medicare program, H.R.6898 would also provide financial incentives to physicians and hospitals that adopt and use an electronic medical records system that is certified to meet standards for interoperability, security and clinical utility.  Under H.R.6898, the incentives would continue for several years, but be phased out over time. Eventually, Medicare payments would be reduced for those who do not use a qualified system.  H.R.6898 would also provide funds through a matching grant program aimed at providers who serve low-income areas, rural areas, and medically underserved areas.

In its current form, H.R.6898 would establish a number of new privacy and security protections.  For additional information on H.R.6898, click on the following links: summary, introduction statement, press release, section-by-section analysis, privacy and security provisions, and incentives.