One of the other issues that your comments bring up is the goal of HIT systems, i.e. are they intended to save money, improve the quality of care, or some of each? Deciding the answer to that question is important for helping develop policies to promote their development and adoption. Thus far, policy makers seem to want to posit that HIT systems will do both - and of course the reality is that only time will tell what outcomes we will really see.

Mandating physician use of EMR’s and IT will not lower costs. It will most likely raise costs as all other mandates do!

To lower costs we need some individual responsibility from the patient. When the patient is primarily responsible for the cost of care, they will make certain that they keep the costs down, and that tests are not repeated 2 or 3 times because someone else is paying for it.

Govt may help to make rules for a level free market playing field. Start by freezing Medicare rates at present levels, but allow balance billing. That will start price competition and keep costs down.

The one EMR -IT regulation that should work is to make certain that all EMR’s have the ability to communicate with each other. Information is crucial and the more we have in front of us will allow for better and morecost effective care.