As seen in Government Technology:
States are moving at an unprecedented rate to get their health care systems wired and connected. And each year, they increase their speed. To this end, states are passing legislation on health information technology to try to improve the quality of care and control hemorrhaging costs. Lawmakers around the country introduced more than 370 bills relating to health information technology during an 18-month period between 2007 and 2008, according to a new report Health Information Technology: 2007 and 2008 State Legislation from the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Specifically, 132 bills containing health information technology provisions were enacted in 44 states and the District of Columbia. That’s three times as many bills enacted compared to the same period from 2005 to 2006. The majority of bills relate to financing and planning efforts. Six states enacted comprehensive measures aimed at protecting patient privacy while facilitating the exchange of health data.
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