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Obama Pitches Bold Plan for Health Records

President-elect wants them all digital, but hurdles remain

By Sam Biddle,  Newser Staff

Posted Jan 12, 2009 2:15 PM CST

(Newser) – Barack Obama is hoping an ambitious health care modernization plan will help deliver on two of his promises: increasing jobs and decreasing health care costs, CNNMoney reports. Obama has said he wants all US health records computerized within five years—a huge undertaking.

Only 8% of the country’s hospitals and 17% of its doctors use digital records, and creating one unified system that could be used by all of them is a major challenge. Experts estimate the project could cost up to $100 billion and doubt whether there are enough people in the US with the skills to get it done.

Barack Obama is proposing a health care modernization plan that he says would create jobs and cut premiums.
Barack Obama is proposing a health care modernization plan that he says would create jobs and cut premiums.   (Getty Images)
Barack Obama is proposing a health care modernization plan that he says would create jobs and cut premiums.
Barack Obama is proposing a health care modernization plan that he says would create jobs and cut premiums.   (Getty Images)
Barack Obama is proposing a health care modernization plan that he says would create jobs and cut premiums.
Barack Obama is proposing a health care modernization plan that he says would create jobs and cut premiums.   (Getty Images)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 3 comments
oldgoat
Jan 13, 2009 3:56 AM CST
Actually Bush knew before hand that his bill would cost far more than he claimed, but he had it kept quiet until after the bill got passed.
Guest
Jan 12, 2009 5:48 AM CST
Oh, kinda like that 3 trillion tab for those WMD's..? Thank god we're so much safer now. Too bad half the country is dying anyways.
scottaco
Jan 12, 2009 5:28 AM CST
I don't see it as that big of an undertaking. Scan the files and make them available for viewing in their original form by the medical staff. At least then they would be readily available. I think this would work wonders on cutting down on fraud and "doc hopping".
 

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