The House today passed H.R.1467, a bill to authorize the National Science Foundation to award grants to institutions of higher education to develop and offer education and training programs in healthcare IT. Known as the “10,000 Trained by 2010 Act,” the bill authorizes $99.6 million through FY11 for four health IT grants administered through the foundation for basic research on innovative approaches to improve information systems. The goal is to train 10,000 new health IT professionals by 2010.
Rep. David Wu, D-Ore., sponsored the bill, citing the fact that “no systematic plan exists for designing and implementing systems and information tools and for ensuring that the healthcare workforce can make the transition to the information age.”
The bill now goes to the Senate. Read H.R.1467.
In related health IT news, former Rep. Nancy Johnson, former Sen. John Breaux, and National Association of Manufacturers president John Engler yesterday announced the formation of Health IT Now! Healthy Patients for Health Technology, a coalition to promote the rapid deployment of health IT. The coalition, chaired by Johnson and Breaux, unites patients, practitioners, and employers to push for federal legislation this year to promote a connected healthcare IT system. The coalition’s initiatives include educating Congress and the public on the benefits of health IT. Read the press release.
