By CQ Staff
April 20, 2007 -- Reps. Charlie Gonzalez, D-Texas, and Phil Gingrey, R-Ga., have introduced legislation aimed at helping small physician practices adopt health information technology.
The measure (HR 1952) would offer grants, loans, and tax incentives to help offset the costs of implementing health information technology, or health IT, the lawmakers said in a news release.
"Just as government investment has catalyzed research in other industries, the incentives provided in this legislation will spark adoption of these technologies, resulting in vast public health benefits," Gonzalez said in a news release.
Gingrey, a physician, said that by providing financial incentives, "this bill will get lifesaving technology into physician offices and into the lives of American patients."
The measure builds on a House Small Business subcommittee hearing from last month where financial incentives were discussed as a way to help more physicians adopt health IT.