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Government may relax Stark to boost HIT adoption

EHR Connection, March 7, 2005

National Health Information Technology Coordinator David Brailer, MD, PhD, said the government is considering creating an exception to the Stark law, which bars hospitals from offering financial incentives to physicians, to level the playing field for access to technology. Feedback to Brailer indicates that many think the law and anti-kickback regulations may hinder IT adoption among small physician practices.

Brailer, speaking during the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society Conference this month in Dallas, said the government has an "obligation" to equalize physicians' opportunity to have the technology.

More than half-57%-of large group practices with 50 or more physicians have implemented electronic records systems, yet only 13% of single physician offices have installed the technology, he said. Brailer did not give specifics about what type of action the government might take, but said the IT adoption plan would not work unless all physicians had equal access.

For more information, go to www.hhs.gov/healthit to read Brailer's speech.

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