Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer has expressed unhappiness with the state Republican budget that seeks to turn away $35 million in federal incentive payments to hospitals for meaningful use of health IT, according to a news report by The Republican.
Republican leaders, who are doubtful of the impact of electronic medical records on the quality of healthcare, want to do away with the incentive money to "send a signal" about federal spending. Republican leaders drafted a budget that also seeks to reduce spending by approximately 5 percent. The budget advanced out of the House and is due in the Senate later this week, according to the news report.
Gov. Schweitzer, who is considering a veto of the Republican budget, said turning federal incentive money "makes no sense" because the money would be redistributed to other states, and the adoption of health IT would spur job creation. Opponents of EMRs, including some physicians and Republicans, say health IT creates a huge privacy concern.
Read the news report about meaningful use incentive payments.
Read other coverage about meaningful use incentive payments:
- Four States Obtain Medicaid EHR Incentive Payments
- Despite Threats and Challenges, Government Spending on Health IT Unlikely to Go Away
- Survey: 81% of Hospitals, 41% of Practices Will Apply for Meaningful Use Funds
Republican leaders, who are doubtful of the impact of electronic medical records on the quality of healthcare, want to do away with the incentive money to "send a signal" about federal spending. Republican leaders drafted a budget that also seeks to reduce spending by approximately 5 percent. The budget advanced out of the House and is due in the Senate later this week, according to the news report.
Gov. Schweitzer, who is considering a veto of the Republican budget, said turning federal incentive money "makes no sense" because the money would be redistributed to other states, and the adoption of health IT would spur job creation. Opponents of EMRs, including some physicians and Republicans, say health IT creates a huge privacy concern.
Read the news report about meaningful use incentive payments.
Read other coverage about meaningful use incentive payments:
- Four States Obtain Medicaid EHR Incentive Payments
- Despite Threats and Challenges, Government Spending on Health IT Unlikely to Go Away
- Survey: 81% of Hospitals, 41% of Practices Will Apply for Meaningful Use Funds