The Hill News

As all parties to the health care system search for ways to rein in costs, the U.S. government is in the process of distributing the first of nearly $30 billion in checks to eligible medical providers. These payouts are part of the Meaningful Use program, which was created under the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act to encourage the adoption and sustained use of electronic health records (EHRs).

If this program works as intended, it has the potential to improve not only patient outcomes and increase coordination among health care professionals, but reduce also skyrocketing health care costs.

But that potential will only be realized if EHRs are adopted and used in an effective and meaningful way. And without the transparency that’s required to measure whether the money is being used for the purpose Congress intended, the Meaningful Use program could end up wasting billions of taxpayer dollars.

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