Looks like this is the text within the bill causing concern:
SEC. 9202. INVESTMENT IN HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY.
(a) In General- The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall invest in the infrastructure necessary to allow for and promote the electronic exchange and use of health information for each individual in the United States consistent with the goals outlined in the Strategic Plan developed by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology. Such investment shall include investment in at least the following:
(1) Health information technology architecture that will support the nationwide electronic exchange and use of health information in a secure, private, and accurate manner, including connecting health information exchanges, and which may include updating and implementing the infrastructure necessary within different agencies of the Department of Health and Human Services to support the electronic use and exchange of health information.
(2) Integration of health information technology, including electronic medical records, into the initial and ongoing training of health professionals and others in the healthcare industry who would be instrumental to improving the quality of healthcare through the smooth and accurate electronic use and exchange of health information as determined by the Secretary.
(3) Training on and dissemination of information on best practices to integrate health information technology, including electronic records, into a provider’s delivery of care, including community health centers receiving assistance under section 330 of the Public Health Service Act and providers participating in one or more of the programs under titles XVIII, XIX, and XXI of the Social Security Act (relating to Medicare, Medicaid, and the State Childrens Health Insurance Program).
(4) Infrastructure and tools for the promotion of telemedicine, including coordination among Federal agencies in the promotion of telemedicine.
(5) Promotion of the interoperability of clinical data repositories or registries.
The Secretary shall implement paragraph (3) in coordination with State agencies administering the Medicaid program and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program.
(b) Limitation- None of the funds appropriated to carry out this section may be used to make significant investments in, or provide significant funds for, the acquisition of hardware or software or for the use of an electronic health or medical record, or significant components thereof, unless such investments or funds are for certified products that would permit the full and accurate electronic exchange and use of health information in a medical record, including standards for security, privacy, and quality improvement functions adopted by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology.
(c) Report- The Secretary shall annually report to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, on Ways and Means, on Science and Technology, and on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Committees on Finance, on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, and on Appropriations of the Senate on the uses of these funds and their impact on the infrastructure for the electronic exchange and use of health information.
Not to change the subject, but what is “telemedicine”?
HOLY CARP SANDWICH.. do these morons understand just how long it would take to make all the medical records electronic....