PRINTER'S NO. 1391
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
224
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY CUTLER, PICKETT, ROZZI, SONNEY, MEHAFFIE, KORTZ,
BOBACK, BIZZARRO, SCHMITT, KNOWLES, CALTAGIRONE, LONGIETTI,
DiGIROLAMO, RYAN, SCHLOSSBERG, FREEMAN, MURT, GAYDOS,
GREINER, BERNSTINE, MACKENZIE, FEE, OBERLANDER, DeLUCA,
KINSEY, BROWN, MILLARD, HILL-EVANS, READSHAW, IRVIN, NEILSON,
MARKOSEK, MENTZER, ZIMMERMAN AND SCHLEGEL CULVER,
APRIL 15, 2019
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
APRIL 15, 2019
A RESOLUTION
Designating April 30, 2019, as "Pennsylvania Health Care
Information Technology Awareness Day."
WHEREAS, United States health care spending increased 3.9%
in 2017, reaching $3.5 trillion, or $10,739 per person; and
WHEREAS, As a share of Gross Domestic Product, health care
spending was 18% in 2016, up from 17.7% in 2015; and
WHEREAS, Over the last decade, health care spending has grown
by more than 40%; and
WHEREAS, The health care industry invests only 3% to 6% of
its revenue on information technology and management systems;
and
WHEREAS, Similar investments by other data-intensive
industries, such as banking and financial services, range from
4.4% to 11.4%; and
WHEREAS, Health care information technology has led to
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improved guideline adherence, better disease surveillance and
greater use of patient-centered care; and
WHEREAS, Health care information technology has reduced
medication errors and adverse drug events and lessened
disparities in access to care; and
WHEREAS, Annual Promoting Interoperability Programs reporting
for Medicare Eligible Professionals, Medicaid Eligible
Professionals and Eligible Hospitals and Critical Access
Hospitals, indicates 546,644 Unique Providers paid through
October 2018; and
WHEREAS, For the same period, the Amount Paid, Program to
Date, reached $38,422,505,920; and
WHEREAS, The digital transformation is driving global
information technology spending to more than $3.7 trillion, its
highest level; and
WHEREAS, Enterprise software followed by information
technology services are spurring this trend; and
WHEREAS, Artificial intelligence, cognitive computing,
security software, machine learning and blockchain technology
are other drivers of spending growth; and
WHEREAS, The Internet of Things, mobility tools, data
analytics/business intelligence, information exchange and
communication systems are projected drivers of future spending
growth; and
WHEREAS, The health care industry is experiencing its highest
rates of change, requiring budget increases to implement and
monitor advancements; and
WHEREAS, The Office of the National Coordinator for Health
Information Technology has outlined benefits of information
technology; and
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WHEREAS, These benefits relate to medical record transparency
and accuracy, coordinated care and overuse of tests and
procedures; and
WHEREAS, According to the Institute of Medicine, at least 1.5
million preventable adverse drug events occur every year, each
adding more than $8,700 to the cost of a hospital stay; and
WHEREAS, The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
reports $1,722,624,114.51 in combined Medicare and Medicaid
spending under Promoting Interoperability Programs from January
2011 through October 2018; and
WHEREAS, The Office of the National Coordinator for Health
Information Technology reports that 92% of eligible hospitals
and 83% of ambulatory health care providers in this Commonwealth
have adopted certified electronic health records; and
WHEREAS, Health care providers in this Commonwealth have
noted an improved ability to recruit physicians coming out of
medical school when advanced information technology is deployed;
and
WHEREAS, Members and supporters of the Healthcare Information
and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) encourage greater access
to comprehensive care for rural Pennsylvanians; and
WHEREAS, Recommendations include expanded use of telehealth
through enactment of Federal telemedicine legislation, workforce
development funding and adoption of interoperability standards;
therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate April
30, 2019, as "Pennsylvania Health Care Information Technology
Awareness Day"; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize that
quality, safety and cost effectiveness gains are achievable when
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information technology and information exchange are applied to
health care; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives welcome HIMSS
members and supporters to the State Capitol, acknowledging a
common goal of securing better health care that integrates
information technology and information exchange.
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