February 2009 | www.healthmgttech.com | Issue 2
	Report: U.S. Healthcare Could Save Billions

A report from the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions asserts that over the span of a decade, broad policy changes coupled with increased health IT adoption could save the U.S. more than $530 billion in healthcare costs. The consulting firm proposes $220 billion in new spending initially over three years on e-prescribing and electronic medical records adoption, as well as assisting primary care physicians to improve coordination of patient care. Americans spent $2.2 trillion on healthcare in 2007, accounting for 16.2 percent of the total U.S. gross domestic product.

Deloitte says savings from adopting health IT will come from reduced medical errors, improved care coordination and lowered administration expenses. In addition, the reports states the application of health IT “to which the Obama administration has pledged $50 billion over five years has the potential to achieve net-present-value savings as high as $90 billion over 10 years.”

Deloitte issued the report less than a week before President Obama was sworn into office.

Next - Former HHS Chief Cautions New Administration

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