Building blocks for digital health network

Quick View. Sept. 11, 2006.

As President Bush advances initiatives to implement a national health information network by 2014, state legislatures are acting to create local networks that eventually could link.

Since 2005, 38 state legislatures have introduced 121 bills addressing health care information technology, according to an August report by the eHealth Initiative, a Washington, D.C.-based public-private collaborative. During 2005 and 2006, 36 bills calling for creation of commissions to develop plans for electronic exchange of health information, integration of technology with quality improvement initiatives, or authorization or appropriation of funding for health care technology initiatives were signed into law in 24 states. In addition, the governors of 10 states issued executive orders calling for development of strategies, plans and recommendations for using technology to improve care and patient safety.

This is a state-by-state breakdown; the full report is available online (www.ehealthinitiative.org).