Stark introduces bill to set standards for national health-data system

California Rep. Pete Stark, Chairman of the House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, has introduced the Health-e Information Technology Act of 2008 which would require the government to create clear standards for an interoperable Health IT system. The bill would also provide the creation of an open source HIT system that will be made available at little or no cost to all providers. There would be incentives to drive the adoption of standardized, interoperable Health IT systems, and the bill includes protections for the privacy of personal health information, according to a release.