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


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