Massachusetts requires EHRs in hospitals by 2015

Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick has signed into law a bill that will require hospitals and community health centers to use interoperable electronic health records systems if they seek to obtain or renew licenses to operate in 2015 or afterward. The law outlines a goal of "full implementation of electronic health records systems and the statewide interoperable electronic health records network by January 1, 2015." It also sets up a mechanism for creating a statewide health information network. The law, however, stops short of requiring doctors in private practice to use health IT.