Diana Manos

Investing now in information technology and other tools needed to modernize the nation's healthcare system will pay dividends in lower costs and greater productivity in the future, said Karen Davis, president of the Commonwealth Fund.

Details on the economic stimulus package are unfolding optimistically for healthcare IT, according to some of the first draft language available, obtained from those close to the process.

The Department of Health and Human Services on Thursday released the long-awaited ICD-10 code set and set a new compliance date of Oct. 1, 2013.

The Coalition for Patient Privacy urged Congress Wednesday to include privacy safeguards with any funding earmarked for healthcare IT in an economic stimulus package expected to hit President-elect Barack Obama's desk shortly after inauguration.

All Americans will have electronic medical records in five years if Congress passes President-Elect Barack Obama's economic recovery plan, outlined in a Jan. 8 speech.

Comparing the effectiveness of various drugs, treatments and devices will be the key to reining in out-of-control healthcare costs, according to top healthcare leaders who spoke at the eHealth Initiative's Fifth Annual Conference last month.

It's the new year, and soon-to-be President Barack Obama isn't the only one saying, "Yes we can." During Obama's aggressive transition period, groundwork has already been laid for healthcare reform that will include healthcare IT advancement as a key principle.

President-elect Barack Obama made it formal. Former Senator Tom Daschle of South Dakota is his nominee for secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. Obama also named Daschle to lead a White House healthcare reform team, with Jean Lambrew as deputy director.