HIMSS President and CEO H. Stephen Lieber was invited to participate in the Senate Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee session on Healthcare IT on October 3. Lieber joined industry colleagues from HIT membership organizations, vendors, and consumer and patient advocates in the 60 minute discussion. The meeting was chaired by Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Steering and Outreach Committee Chair.

Sen. Stabenow kicked off the meeting and turned to Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) for comment. He explained it doesn't matter where you go or who you talk to - employers, clinicians, patients, etc. -- they all have concerns about healthcare delivery, including quality, access, and cost of care. And all are interested in using HIT as an enabler. Moreover, the issue has enjoyed great bipartisanship (noting co-sponsors of past and current legislation to include former Senate Majority Leader, Bill Frist (R-TN)).

Senator Stabenow mentioned the realities of HIT helping constituents address real world issues, particularly around seeking care in a variety of places based on facility capabilities and complexity of individual cases.

Meanwhile, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) welcomed the group and thanked everyone for interest in participating in what he described as a problem-solving opportunity. During his opening comments, Sen. Whitehouse referenced the challenges of the 21st Century and the overall impact technology is having and will have on our lives. He suggested everyone check out a movie that was shown to him by individuals from the Intelligence Community, entitled, "Did You Know Shift Happens."

Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) explained his concern that jurisdictional battles are slowing down progress in healthcare reform. He urged the various constituencies to identify the issues that impact multiple committees and work to educate the committees on how provisions in one bill (i.e. Wired for Healthcare Quality Act) can help the other committees, so the committee members don't get bogged down in jurisdictional battles.

Lieber summarized the discussion by stating from a HIMSS perspective, the challenge of HIT adoption is that the providers are asked to make the investment in information management tools and made to wait for the ROI, while using technology to attempt to avoid a "never event." Conversely, investment in diagnostic equipment has a direct impact on the bottom line because the provider receives a direct (and nearly immediate) financial incentive. For information management solutions to be wider spread, providers must have a short term incentive for purchasing. Grants and other incentives received on the front end will make adoption more attractive to providers.

Kevin Hutchinson, president and CEO of SureScripts, discussed e-prescribing, particularly the benefits of having all 50 states and DC clearing regulations to permit e-prescribing.

During closing remarks, Sen. Whitehouse offered the following observations:

1. Pay attention to Sen. Kennedy's guidance and request on jurisdictional matters
2. Collaboration on the priority for problems and fixes in HIT. The Senate is hearing from too many competing voices.
3. Industry needs to help Congress define the infrastructure issues (what is the equivalent to street paving in the HIT world) that Congress should be funding, and what are the investment issues that providers as small businesses should be funding.

Senator Stabenow reiterated short- and long-term tasks have been helpful to the Senators. In particular, they will be focusing on DEA e-prescribing of controlled substances restrictions and whether e-prescribing should be independent or in conjunction with EHR adoption initiatives.

Participating Senators included:

Senator Harry Reid, Nevada,
Majority Leader


Senator Dick Durbin, Illinois,
Assistant Majority Leader

Senator Debbie Stabenow, Michigan, Steering and Outreach Comm. Chairperson


Senator Ted Kennedy, Massachusetts,
Chairman of the HELP Committee

Senator Ken Salazar, Colorado


Senator John Tester, Montana

Senator Jeff Bingaman, New Mexico


Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, Rhode Island

Senator Ben Cardin, Maryland


Senator Ron Wyden, Oregon

Senator Blanche Lambert Lincoln, Arkansas


Senator Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota

Participating Staff included:

Tom Russell, Staff Director of the DSOC

David Bowen, Senate HELP Committee

David Schwartz, Senate Finance Committee

Jordana Levinson, Health Policy Advisor to Senator Whitehouse