Congressman Promotes Western NY Tech Economy

While most of Washington D.C. is engulfed in fiscal cliff negotiations, Congressman Brian Higgins, a Democrat from western New York, is urging lawmakers to support wider use of electronic health records and is also touting his home region’s somewhat bustling health IT economy.

Citing the benefits of EHRs and health information exchange during disasters like Hurricane Sandy, Higgins said lawmakers should “encourage the widespread adoption of health information technology and to assist in its expansion across the country.”

Higgins’ remarks come after some controversy earlier this year over the federal government’s health IT incentive programs, with several Republican lawmakers calling for an end to meaningful use EHR payments, amid overbilling concerns.