Congress and electronic medical records.(HEALTH CARE)

Kiplinger Letter, The, December, 2005

Congress will clear the way for electronic medical records. Early next year, lawmakers will OK a law allowing the government to set uniform national standards for these easily exchanged records. The aim is to assure health care providers that they won't waste money on records systems that may not be compatible with other systems.

Going electronic will yield some big savings: $140 billion a year by eliminating duplicative testing and many unnecessary treatments.

Plus fewer deaths from medical errors. Easily accessed records will help doctors pinpoint diagnoses faster and identify drug allergies.

Lawmakers will help cash-strapped health care providers plug in with grants and/or loans to buy systems and set up online file sharing.