Interpreting the 2010 Elections on Health IT Policy

 Well, the 2010 elections are finally over, the voters have spoken, and many pundits are trying to figure out what the results mean for our nation and its implication on key policy questions.

HIMSS members around the country were closing watching local, state and national races to see which decision-makers they would be working with over the next two years on key issues of importance to them.

The United States Senate has stayed in Democratic control, but with a much smaller majority.  Senate Majority Leader Reid from Nevada survived a tough re-election, but is much weakened going forward.  Senate Democrats will now have to look at whom they want to lead the Senate over the next two years.  They will vote by secret ballot in the near future.

The United States House of Representatives will now be controlled by the Republicans when the 112^th Congress convenes in January 2011.  President Obama called the presumptive next Speaker of the House, Rep. John Boehner, last evening to congratulate him on his party’s victory and promise to work with him.  With the House and Senate held by different parties, compromise will be even harder to find in the 112^th Congress.

 The current 111^th Congress will reconvene in a few weeks to complete unfinished business before adjourning permanently either this month or next month.

As we review individual results over the next few days, we will have the best facts ready for our webinar this coming Friday, November 5, when we provide our members with a post-election analyses from a panel of national and state experts sharing their perspectives on election outcomes and potential impact on healthcare policy. 

During A Post-Election Analysis: Potential Effects on Health IT Policy, Jennifer Haberkorn, Health Care Policy and Politics Reporter at Politico will share her ‘behind the story’ perspectives and political insight on the Congressional election results; Tim Story, Senior Legislative Fellow with the National Conference of State Legislatures, will report on election results in state legislatures across the country, and where he predicts state lawmakers will focus their attention in coming months; and Kathleen Nolan, Director of the Health Division at the National Governors Association, will offer an overview of gubernatorial election results, and how governors will influence implementation of healthcare reform and HITECH. 

Registration for this webinar (complimentary for HIMSS members) is still open, but you must register to attend.  In the meantime, please let us know your thoughts on the outcome of Election 2010.