Senate Bills - 109th Congress

S. 1355—The Better Healthcare Through Information Technology Act

On June 30, Senator Michael Enzi (R-WY) introduced S. 1355, the Better Healthcare Through Information Technology Act. The bill would require the development of standards on interoperability and other technical measures for health IT systems; establish a public private consultation to develop those standards; and require all Federal IT purchases to conform to such standards. It would also authorize the creation of a National Coordinator for Health IT within the Office of the Secretary of HHS. Financial assistance would be made available to health care providers, in the form of grants, to enhance their use of IT systems that meet the new technical standards. S. 1355, which has 20 cosponsors, was referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP).