HIMSS Federal HIT Legislation Crosswalk

The American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) added HIMSS to the 2006 Associations Advance America Honor Roll for its Federal Legislation Tracker—Crosswalk. This is the second consecutive year that the ASAE has recognized a HIMSS program for the Honor Roll. In 2005, HIMSS received the ASAE Honor Roll Award for its National Advocacy Outreach Program.  The Legislation Crosswalk is “a perfect example of how associations play a vital role in helping the nation adapt to complex and changing times,” said John H. Graham IV, President/CEO of ASAE, in a December 1, 2005, letter to David W. Roberts, FHIMSS, HIMSS Vice President of Government Relations, who led the development of the program.

With 41 pieces of healthcare IT legislation now under consideration by the 109th Congress, HIMSS evaluates the specifics of each bill in the Crosswalk, which was developed by HIMSS’ Government Relations team. The tracking tool, which is a new tool that is regularly updated for HIMSS members, federal decision-makers and the media, compares and contrasts provisions of key healthcare IT legislation. This type of evaluation and tracking system is often used on Capitol Hill by Congressional staffers to better understand legislation introduced on a specific topic.

• The legislation listed on the Crosswalk includes:
• National Health Information Incentive Act of 2005 (H.R. 747)
• 21st Century Health Information Act of 2005 (H.R. 2234)
• Preserving Patient Access to Physicians Act of 2005 (H.R. 2356)
• Medicare Value-Based Purchasing for Physicians’ Act of 2005 (H.R. 3617)
• Medicaid Transaction Grant Act of 2005 (H.R. 4142)
• Health Information Technology Promotion Act of 2005 (H.R. 4157)
• Wired for Health Care Quality Act (H.R. 4642)
• Affordable Health Care Act (S.16)
• Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act of 2005 (S. 544)
• Preserving Patient Access to Physicians Act of 2005 (S. 1081)
• Information Technology for Health Care Quality Act (S. 1223)
• The Health Information Technology Act of 2005 (S. 1227)
• Health Technology to Enhance Quality Act of 2005 (S. 1262)
• Medicare Value Purchasing Act of 2005 (S. 1356)
• Wired for Healthcare Quality Act (S. 1418)
• Healthy America Act of 2005 (S. 1503)
• National Medical Error Disclosure and Compensation (MEDiC) Act of 2005 (S. 1784)
• Critical Access to Health Information Technology Act of 2005 (S. 1952)

Updated 9/22/06
Download Legislative Crosswalk Comparison of S. 1418 vs. H.R. 4157
Download HIMSS Federal Health IT Legislation Crosswalk - Senate
Download HIMSS Federal Health IT Legislation Crosswalk - House