12 Feb Healthcare IT slated for $19B in proposed stimulus package
WASHINGTON – Congress is expected to approve $19 billion toward health information technology, with $17 billion allotted to incentives and $2 billion to jump-start healthcare IT adoption, according to a Wednesday night draft of the stimulus package.
The original House version of the bill designated $20 billion for healthcare IT, with the Senate setting aside $22 billion.
The $789 billion conference agreement between the House and Senate versions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (H.R. 1) still faces potential amendments before a final vote, and some healthcare provisions of the bill were not scored as of Wednesday night.
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said a final vote is expected before Saturday.
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