Electronic Health Record Incentives for Puerto Rico Hospitals (House) (H.R. 1379)

What is H.R. 1379?

(Updated January 31, 2017)

This bill deals with bonus payments under the Medicare program for adopting electronic health records. In 2009, the HealthInformation Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITEC) was passed. The Act authorizes bonus payments to hospitals and doctors for using electronic health records. When the bill was written, hospitals in Puerto Rico were omitted from the bonus payment program (though physicians were not). This bill would apply the rules of the HITEC Act to such hospitals, giving the hospitals bonus payments for using electronic health records and reducing Medicare reimbursement rates if hospitals did not, in a manner identical to how the HITEC program is employed in U.S. states. 

Argument in favor

Would improve the quality of healthcare for those seeking treatment at Puerto Rico hospitals. Corrects a past legislative oversight.

Argument opposed

Would cost an additional $100 million in federal payments to Puerto Rico hospitals over the next decade.

Impact

The bill impacts hospitals, Medicare payments, and health in Puerto Rico.

Cost of H.R. 1379

$100 million over the next decade.

Additional Info

Media: 

Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) Press Release

Of Note:

-Identical legislation has been introduced in the Senate by Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL).