[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 10]
[House]
[Page 13712]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




E-PRESCRIBING AND ITS POTENTIAL TO IMPROVE QUALITY AND HEALTH OUTCOMES 
                       IN OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM

  (Ms. SCHWARTZ asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. SCHWARTZ. Mr. Speaker, under the Democratic-controlled Congress, 
the country is moving in a new direction. Improvements in our health 
care delivery system are key parts of this new direction.
  I applaud my colleagues for an overwhelming bipartisan victory 
yesterday in support of our Nation's seniors, disabled and health care 
providers.
  The Medicare bill we passed yesterday will not only prevent the 
impending physician fee cut, but it will also strengthen Medicare and 
will provide more accessible access to service and will promote 
improved patient safety and health outcomes.
  I'm proud to be a leader in Congress in promoting health technology. 
The legislation I introduced last year, which was included in the 
Medicare bill yesterday, promotes the use of E-prescribing by Medicare 
providers. Electronic prescribing will eliminate injuries, 
hospitalizations and mortalities that occur each year as a result of 
1.5 million prescription errors annually.
  The use of E-prescribing is smart; it is timely, and it is a major 
step forward in expanding the use of electronic medical records. It has 
the potential to improve quality, to improve health outcomes and to 
reduce costs in our health care system.
  I urge the Senate to pass and accept our legislation.

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