There’s been a lot of chatter surrounding the role open source might play in health IT, particularly since Obama announced the government will use open source software to create a national electronic health records system for the military. Proponents love the idea and point to the government’s pursuit of two open source options—the Department of Veterans Affairs' VistA medical records system and Connect from Sun Microsystems—as a sign that that open source software could become a major component of health reform. Maybe. Or maybe not. Read »

Obama’s mid-April comments signaling a willingness to compromise on the idea of a government-sponsored health plan that would compete with private options—reiterated by health reform czar Nancy-Ann DeParle, who said there was flexibility in how a public plan could be defined—has raised the hackles of some of the key forces responsible for catapulting the junior senator from Illinois into the White House. As the battle over the future of our nation’s healthcare system slips into high gear, the Health Economics Research Institute (HERI) is actively pursuing research proposals to support its mission of improving the U.S. health care delivery system through market-based solutions. A noble effort, but does it stand a chance? Read »

The $19 billion earmarked for health IT under the recently passed "stimulus" package—$17 billion of which is meant to incentivize physicians and hospitals to adopt EHRs and demonstrate "meaningful use" between 2011 and 2015—may prove insufficient, according to a new study released by Avalere Health. The study states the funds might not provide enough incentive for some physicians to make the initial installation investment. Read »