Sec. 4104. Studies and Reports on Health Information Technology.
(a) STUDY AND REPORT ON APPLICATION OF EHR PAYMENT INCENTIVES FOR PROVIDERS NOT RECEIVING OTHER INCENTIVE PAYMENTS.—
(1) STUDY.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall conduct a study to determine the extent to which and manner in which payment incentives (such as under title XVIII or XIX of the Social Security Act) and other funding for purposes of implementing and using certified EHR technology (as defined in section 1848(o)(4) of the Social Security Act, as added by section 4101(a)) should be made available to health care providers who are receiving minimal or no payment incentives or other funding under this Act, under title XIII of division A, under title XVIII or XIX of such Act, or otherwise, for such purposes.
(B) DETAILS OF STUDY.—Such study shall include an examination of—
(i) the adoption rates of certified EHR technology by such health care providers;
(ii) the clinical utility of such technology by such health care providers;
(iii) whether the services furnished by such health care providers are appropriate for or would benefit from the use of such technology;
(iv) the extent to which such health care providers work in settings that might otherwise receive an incentive payment or other funding under this Act, under title XIII of division A, under title XVIII or XIX of the Social Security Act, or otherwise;
(v) the potential costs and the potential benefits of making payment incentives and other funding available to such health care providers; and
(vi) any other issues the Secretary deems to be appropriate.
(2) REPORT.—Not later than June 30, 2010, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the findings and conclusions of the study conducted under paragraph (1).
(b) STUDY AND REPORT ON AVAILABILITY OF OPEN SOURCE HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS.—
(1) STUDY.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall, in consultation with the Under Secretary for Health of the Veterans Health Administration, the Director of the Indian Health Service, the Secretary of Defense, the Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, and the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, conduct a study on—
(i) the current availability of open source health information technology systems to Federal safety net providers (including small, rural providers);
(ii) the total cost of ownership of such systems in comparison to the cost of proprietary commercial products available;
(iii) the ability of such systems to respond to the needs of, and be applied to, various populations (including children and disabled individuals); and
(iv) the capacity of such systems to facilitate interoperability.
(B) CONSIDERATIONS.—In conducting the study under subparagraph (A), the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall take into account the circumstances of smaller health care providers, health care providers located in rural or other medically underserved areas, and safety net providers that deliver a significant level of health care to uninsured individuals, Medicaid beneficiaries, SCHIP beneficiaries, and other vulnerable individuals.
(2) REPORT.—Not later than October 1, 2010, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall submit to Congress a report on the findings and the conclusions of the study conducted under paragraph (1), together with recommendations for such legislation and administrative action as the Secretary determines appropriate. Subtitle B—Medicaid Incentives
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