WASHINGTON WIRE

In this issue, you'll find:

 Senate Committee Approves Health IT Legislation

President Bush Opposes Efforts to Expand SCHIP

Senate VA Committee Approves Veterans’ Benefit Bills

Congress is in Recess Until July 9, 2007

Top Story

Senate Committee Approves Health IT Legislation

The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee approved legislation on Wednesday would to increase the use of health information technology (IT).

Chairman Kennedy (D-MA) and Ranking Member Enzi (R-WY) introduced the Wired for Health Care Quality Act of 2007, which would authorize nearly $280 million in grants and loans for the adoption of health IT by providers. The legislation also contains provisions that would allow the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to pilot test interoperability standards as well as create an advisory board to oversee these standards and criteria for certification of health IT systems.

Only two amendments were adopted during Wednesday's mark-up, including one offered by Senator Reed (D-RI) to strengthen privacy protections in the bill. Senator Reed's amendment, supported by several mental health groups, would require the American Health Information Community (AHIC) to make annual recommendations to the Secretary of HHS for "methods to preserve the individual's ability to control the acquisition, uses, and disclosures of individually identifiable information" and "methods to protect the individually identifiable health information from improper use and disclosures."

The Administration is opposing the use of grants to encourage health IT adoption. HHS also stated that the creation of a new advisory panel would duplicate and complicate efforts already covered by AHIC.

Health Care News

President Bush Opposes Efforts to Expand SCHIP

During a speech at the White House on Wednesday, President Bush stated that he strongly opposes a massive expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).

SCHIP is up for reauthorization this year and Congress is considering a significant increase in funding to the programs to include higher-income children and potentially adults. Some Members are estimating Congress will add an additional $50 billion over five years to the program, despite the President's FY 2008 request for half that amount.

The President framed his opposition to SCHIP expansion as part of the larger debate on what role the government should play in providing healthcare. The President stated that SCHIP expansion is part of the Democrats' larger strategy to increase government-run healthcare when instead, he stated, there should be a greater emphasis on expanding access to the private insurance market.

Meanwhile, the Senate Finance Committee postponed a scheduled SCHIP reauthorization mark-up this week until after the July 4th recess. The Finance Committee is expected to propose a significant expansion of the SCHIP program and is looking at Medicare Advantage cuts and tobacco tax increases as potential ways to pay for it.

Senate VA Committee Approves Veterans' Benefit Bills 

The Senate Veterans Affairs Committee approved a series of bills this week addressing Veterans' benefits.

One of the larger VA bills includes a provision that would expand access to VA hospitals to "Priority 8" veterans - those who do not have a service-related disability and have incomes of about $27,790. Ranking Member Larry Craig (R-ID) expressed strong opposition to the provision, stating concern that the influx of veterans would jeopardize the quality and accessibility of care for veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

The panel also approved a bill to expand access to rehabilitative services for veterans with traumatic brain injury as well as a veterans' suicide prevention bill to increase access to VA mental health services.

The Senate is expected to pass the measures following the July 4th recess.

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Congress is in Recess Until July 9, 2007

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