IV 111th CONGRESS 1st Session H. CON. RES. 180 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES September 8, 2009 Mr. Kennedy (for himself, Mr. Tim Murphy of Pennsylvania, Mr. Moore of Kansas, Mr. Wu, and Mr. Gonzalez) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce CONCURRENT RESOLUTION Expressing support for designation of the period beginning on September 21, 2009, and ending on September 25, 2009, as National Health Information Technology Week.

Whereas the Center for Information Technology Leadership (CITL) estimated that the implementation of national standards for interoperability and the exchange of health information would save the United States approximately $77,000,000,000 in expenses relating to healthcare each year; Whereas healthcare information technology and management systems have been recognized as essential tools for improving the quality and cost efficiency of our healthcare system; Whereas the President and Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services have made a commitment to leveraging the benefits of health information technology and management systems through the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act, which included funding incentives for electronic medical records that will help to reduce costs and improve quality while ensuring patients’ privacy, established the Office of Health Reform and codified the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology; Whereas Congress has emphasized improving the quality and safety of the delivery of healthcare in the United States; and Whereas organizations across the country have come together to support National Health Information Technology Week since 2006 to improve public awareness relating to the potential benefits of improved quality and cost efficiency that the healthcare system could achieve by implementing health information technology: Now, therefore, be it

That Congress— (1)recognizes the value of information technology and management systems to transforming healthcare for all people in the United States; (2)supports the designation of “National Health Information Technology Week”; and (3)encourages the President to issue a proclamation calling upon all stakeholders to promote the use of information technology and management systems to transform the United States healthcare system.