GOP Rep. Ellmers asks administration for plan on health IT safety

“Because health IT has the promise to improve healthcare delivery for patients … I remain eager to work with you to ensure that health IT is safe, effective and affordable.”

Ellmers is chairwoman of the House Small Business subcommittee on Healthcare and Technology.

The federal Institute of Medicine called for greater public and private oversight of health IT in a report released in November 2011. It added that the Food and Drug Administration should regulate the technology if HHS decides that step is necessary.

Ellmers also asked Sebelius for a list of all medical errors associated with health IT, including deaths, that have been reported to HHS, among other materials.