September 20, 2022
Health IT
  • A New York Times article discusses how data gaps have undermined the federal government’s ability to respond to public health emergencies. The article points out that while the federal government has invested over $38 billion to modernize private hospitals’ and health care providers’ data systems, state and local health departments have largely been left with antiquated data and communications tools. “The drought of reliable data has also repeatedly left regulators high and dry in deciding whether, when and for whom additional shots of coronavirus vaccine should be authorized,” the article states. Nonprofit organizations have estimated that states and localities need anywhere from $7.84 billion over five years to $37 million over 10 years for data modernization. (Article here)