Wired for Health Care Quality Act
Latest action (27 Jun 2007): Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
What this bill does
S. 1693, the Wired for Health Care Quality Act, was intended to promote the development of a nationwide, interoperable health information technology (health IT) system. As reported by the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, the bill would have amended the Public Health Service Act to establish a formal Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology within the Department of Health and Human Services, along with two advisory bodies—a public-private "Partnership for Health Care Improvement" and an "American Health Information Community." These entities would have been tasked with recommending technical standards, certification criteria, and privacy/security policies for electronic health records and health data exchange, which federal agencies could then formally adopt.
The bill would primarily affect federal health agencies (including HHS, the VA, and the Department of Defense), health care providers such as hospitals, physicians, and pharmacies, health plans, and technology vendors, by creating a structured process for setting and adopting national health IT standards. It also included funding authorizations—$5 million annually for the Coordinator's office and $2 million annually for the Partnership for fiscal years 2008–2009—along with provisions such as required reports, a public website, and a 2014 sunset date for certain provisions.
The bill was introduced by Senator Edward Kennedy on June 26, 2007, with bipartisan cosponsors, and was reported by the Senate HELP Committee with an amendment on August 1, 2007. According to available records, it did not receive a further vote and did not become law in the 110th Congress.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
Wired for Health Care Quality Act - Title I: Improving the Interoperability of Health Information Technology - (Sec. 101) Amends the Public Health Service Act to establish the Office of the National Coordinator of Health Information Technology. Requires the Office to: (1) ensure that key health information technology initiatives are coordinated across the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS); (2) enhance the use of health information technology to improve the quality of health care in the prevention and management of chronic disease and to address population health; (3) develop a strategic plan for implementing a nationwide interoperable health information technology infrastructure; and (4) assess the impact of health information technology in communities with health disparities and identify practices to increase the adoption of such technology by health care providers in such communities. Terminates this section on September 30, 2014.
Establishes a public-private Partnership for Health Care Improvement to: (1) provide advice to the Secretary of Health and Human Services (the Secretary) and the nation and recommend specific actions to achieve a nationwide interoperable health information technology infrastructure; (2) make recommendations concerning standards, implementation specifications, and certification criteria for the electronic exchange of health information for adoption by the federal government and, voluntarily, by private entities; and (3) develop a schedule for the assessment of standards and implementation specifications. Requires the Secretary, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and the Secretary of Defense to jointly review such recommendations. Requires the President to provide for the adoption by the federal government of standards and implementation specifications contained in such recommendation.
Establishes the American Health Information Community to: (1) provide advice to the Secretary and relevant federal agencies concerning health information technology policy considerations; (2) make recommendations concerning a policy framework for the development and adoption of a nationwide interoperable health information technology infrastructure; and (3) make recommendations concerning national policies for adoption by the federal government and, voluntarily, by private entities to support the widespread adoption of health information technology, including the protection of individually identifiable health information. Requires the Secretary to review all recommendations and determine which should be endorsed by the federal government. Terminates provisions related to the Community on September 20, 2014.
Prohibits a federal agency from expending federal funds for the purchase of new health information technology that is not consistent with standards adopted under this Act. Directs all federal agencies collecting health data in an electronic format to comply with the standards and implementation specifications adopted under this Act.
Requires the Secretary to contract with private entities to serve as Quality Reporting Organizations to store federal health data and develop reports to: (1) improve the quality and efficiency of health care and advanced health care research; (2) enhance the education and awareness of consumers for evaluating health care services; and (3) provide the public with reports on national, regional, provider, and supplier performance.
Requires the Secretary to give researchers access to all federal health care data to report on the performance of health care providers and suppliers.
Title II: Facilitating the Widespread Adoption of Interoperable Health Information Technology - (Sec. 201) Authorizes the Secretary to award competitive matching grants to: (1) eligible entities to facilitate the purchase and enhance the utilization of qualified health information technology systems to improve the quality and efficiency of health care; (2) states for loans to health care providers to facilitate the purchase and enhance the utilization of qualified health information technology; (3) eligible entities to implement regional or local health information plans to improve health care quality and efficiency through the electronic exchange of health information; and (4) eligible entities or consortia to carry out demonstration projects to develop academic curricula integrating qualified health information technology systems in the clinical education of health professionals or to analyze clinical data sets to discover quality measures.
Title III: Improving the Quality of Health Care - (Sec. 301) Requires the Secretary to: (1) provide for the development and use of measures of the quality and efficiency of health care that patients receive; and (2) designate a single organization to promote the development of such quality measures and provide the Secretary with advice and recommendations on the key elements and priorities of a national system for health care performance measurement. Requires the designated organization to: (1) ensure that priority is given to certain measures, including those measures with the greatest potential impact for improving the performance and efficiency of care; (2) establish procedures to ensure that quality measures take into account differences in patient health status, patient characteristics, and geographic locations; and (3) require the owners or developers of quality measures to update and enhance such measures and retire outdated measures.
Timeline
27 Jun 2007
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Common questions
- What does S. 1693 do?
- S. 1693, the Wired for Health Care Quality Act, was intended to promote the development of a nationwide, interoperable health information technology (health IT) system. As reported by the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, the bill would have amended the Public Health Service Act to establish a formal Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology within the Department of Health and Human Services, along with two advisory bodies—a public-private "Partnership for Health Care Improvement" and an "American Health Information Community." These entities would have been tasked with recommending technical standards, certification criteria, and privacy/security policies for electronic health records and health data exchange, which federal agencies could then formally adopt. The bill would primarily affect federal health agencies (including HHS, the VA, and the Department of Defense), health care providers such as hospitals, physicians, and pharmacies, health plans, and technology vendors, by creating a structured process for setting and adopting national health IT standards. It also included funding authorizations—$5 million annually for the Coordinator's office and $2 million annually for the Partnership for fiscal years 2008–2009—along with provisions such as required reports, a public website, and a 2014 sunset date for certain provisions. The bill was introduced by Senator Edward Kennedy on June 26, 2007, with bipartisan cosponsors, and was reported by the Senate HELP Committee with an amendment on August 1, 2007. According to available records, it did not receive a further vote and did not become law in the 110th Congress.
- Has S. 1693 become law?
- Not yet. As of 27 Jun 2007, S. 1693 is ordered reported.
- Who sponsored S. 1693?
- S. 1693 was sponsored by Sen. Edward “Ted” Kennedy [D-MA, 1962-2009] (Democrat-MA), with 16 cosponsors.
- What's the latest action on S. 1693?
- Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably. (27 Jun 2007).
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