White House names new health IT chief

The nation's health IT effort is on track despite minor disagreements among stakeholders, he says.

By David Glendinning, AMNews staff. May 21, 2007.

Washington -- The nation's new health information technology chief, Robert M. Kolodner, MD, will spearhead the federal effort to equip the majority of patients with electronic medical records within a decade of President Bush's establishment of this goal in 2004.

Prior to his appointment, Dr. Kolodner spent nearly 30 years working with the Dept. of Veterans Affairs where he helped develop the department's EMR system, known as VistA. American Medical News spoke with Dr. Kolodner, who had served as interim national health IT coordinator since September, after his appointment to the permanent post on April 18.

What do you hope to accomplish as the national coordinator?

I hope to continue creating the environment where market forces can advance the use and adoption of interoperable health IT across the nation. The reason for it is a fundamental requirement to transform health care in the future and improve the quality, while reducing the cost.

Your predecessor, Dr. Brailer, said that his replacement would need to help physicians implement IT by lowering the cost, raising the economic benefit and lowering the technology's risk. How can this be accomplished?

There are a number of incentives, such as the modifications to the Stark anti-kickback regulations. Those went into effect in October so that larger entities, such as hospitals, can cover the vast majority of the cost of [electronic health records] for individual providers. Pay-for-performance may provide some incentive for using EHRs. We're looking at recommendations that we work with malpractice insurers to lower the rates for physicians who are effectively using electronic health records. People may start choosing their providers based on their ability to use personal health records. Certification will provide a reassurance for physicians that a product achieves a certain level of functionality, security and interoperability.