Washington, D.C. The Senate passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, H.R. 1 on a vote of 61-37. The House of Representatives passed H.R. 1 on Jan. 28. The Senate legislation crossed many hurdles this week as Senators agreed to a bi-partisan amendment sponsored by Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Ben Nelson (D-NB) that cut over $100 billion in initiatives from the legislation. Lawmakers had continually criticized the stimulus legislation for including initiatives that do not have a direct correlation with job growth during these struggling economic times.

The economic stimulus legislation, as passed by the Senate, totals approximately $838 billion in tax cuts, unemployment benefits, transportation and public works, and health IT. Specifically, the legislation includes over $20 billion for health IT: $3 billion for the Office of the National Coordinator and $16 billion for incentives through Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements systems to assist providers in adopting EHRs. The legislation also includes over $2 billion to support the use of broadband technologies, health IT within the Indian Health Services and Social Security Administration, and equipment for health centers. Additional information on H.R. 1, as agreed to by the Senate, can be accessed at http://www.himss.org/advocacy/d/HIMSS_Summary_
HR_1_Senate.pdf.

The differences between the House and Senate bills will now be reconciled through a Conference Committee. If the Conference Committee reaches a compromise, a written report would be produced by the Committee and submitted for approval to both the Senate and House. Congressional leaders would like to have the bill signed into law by Feb. 13, before the Presidents’ Day holiday.

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