#4 - Healthcare

The $100 billion in direct state funding for Medicaid is the most major component of health policy within the stimulus plan.

On the official President-elect’s web site, www.Change.gov, a pairing of health care and technology policies is proposed to modernize the American health care industry by moving all medical providers to an electronic records system. The Rand Institute has reported that the health industry would see an average savings of $77 billion a year if all records were electronic. Though the initiative has a $50 billion price tag, terms like “down payment” has been used, causing many to believe that the program would be funded incrementally as it grows. Other than suggesting tax incentives and expense rebates for those who participate in the move to electronic records, details on the transition are lacking. Experts in the health IT industry suggest the federal government must also develop standards of interoperability to make the transition fully successful, rather than simply mandate the institution of electronic health records. In an attempt to create new jobs and fill the critical need for healthcare workers, the administration has also discussed offering an educational tax credit for those pursuing nursing and health related degrees.