Amid the partisan gridlock that has gripped Washington over the past couple of years, health IT, including electronic health records, has been one of the few issues to enjoy support from both sides of the aisle. A new policy request asks Congress to keep up its support of the issue.

The HIMSS Policy Summit, held September 16, produced three main points. First, the organization called on lawmakers to continue supporting measures that are currently in place to encourage the adoption of EHRs.

Second, the request specifically cited the meaningful use incentive program. Under this initiative, providers can earn up to $44,000 for participating in the Medicare arm or $63,750 for participating in the Medicaid portion. HIMSS called on Congress to avoid making any cuts to the program.

Finally, the policy request says that legislation should be passed to make a nationwide patient identification system possible. This is necessary, the group said, to ensure that the right patient gets the right treatment, which cuts down on errors and lowers costs.

HIMSS officials said recent efforts from the federal government to spark innovation in healthcare IT have been very successful, but the nation's current fiscal status could jeopardize these projects if they are not actively protected.