What benefits will consumers and others receive from the Community (AHIC)?

Answer

The Community will help with the widespread adoption of electronic health records and related health information technology improvements that will result in fewer mistakes, lower costs, less hassle, and better care. Health IT can help prevent many medical errors. The Institute of Medicine estimates that medical errors kill 45,000 to 98,000 Americans each year in hospitals. Moreover, health IT can reduce costs by saving time and reducing duplication and waste – lowering health care costs by as much as 10%. Consumers not only benefit by saving money and receiving better care, but also by saving time. Patients will not have to give their address, insurance information, and other basic information over and over again. More importantly, the information needed to treat patients effectively will be a computer click away, no matter where the patient is receiving care.