Caution Lights down the Track – UK Dismantles HIT Program

U.K. Health Service To Dismantle Nationwide Health IT Program

Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said that the National Programme for Health IT, which launched in 2002, “let down the NHS and wasted taxpayers’ money” (Press Association, 9/22)

iHealthBeat:

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U.K. Health Service To Dismantle Nationwide Health IT Program

Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said that the National Programme for Health IT, which launched in 2002, “let down the NHS and wasted taxpayers’ money” (Press Association, 9/22)

iHealthBeat:

It is now almost ten  years since beginning their National HIE in a country much smaller than the U.S. Certainly their software designs are obsolete and not industry current.

Lansley said, “We will be moving to an innovative new system driven by local decision-making. This is the only way to make sure we get value for money from IT systems that better meet the needs of a modernized NHS” (Beckford, London Telegraph, 9/22).

Because most healthcare transactions take place in regions and not nationally it seems reasonable that the nationwide network should be built last. The interoperability standards have been set…things may evolve and what is the rush?  How many patients receive treatment in LA, Chicago, and NY?  Few travel that distance for routine treatments. The number of patiens who can afford national expeditions for treatment are limited.

So far HHS has dispensed over $ 600 million dollars in incentives, according to

The Federal Government Has Distributed $653M in EHR Incentive Pay

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The CMS data also show that:

• $262.2 million in Medicaid incentives have been paid to 294 hospitals registered as eligible for both the Medicare and Medicaid incentive programs;
• $226 million in Medicare incentives have been paid to 114 hospitals registered for the Medicare incentive program;
• $93.9 million in Medicaid incentives have been paid to 4,463 physicians and eligible health care professionals;
• $38.3 million in Medicare incentives have been paid to 2,129 physicians and eligible health care professionals; and
• $32.9 million in incentives have been paid to 15 hospitals registered solely under state-administered Medicaid incentive