Politics & Government

Massachusetts Launches New Electronic Medical Records System

Health care leaders say electric medical records can help improve care while lowering costs.

Gov. Deval Patrick is unveiling a new electronic medical records system that will allows health care providers easier access to patient medical records. 

The second phase of the health information exchange will let “health care providers for the first time to locate, request, and retrieve medical records from across the state on a secure, interconnected system,” reported the Associated Press. 

Patrick will show off the new system at an event at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston on Wednesday.

Find out what's happening in Chelmsfordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Massachusetts received $14 million from the Office of the National Coordinator and $20 million from Medicaid to fund Phase 1 of the project. The state is receiving another $21 million for Phase 2, according to the Boston Business Journal.

Health care leaders say electric medical records can help improve care while lowering costs.

Find out what's happening in Chelmsfordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Health systems and providers will need to subscribe to the exchange to take part. Large health systems will need to pay $30,000 per year and health care providers will be charged $60 per year. More than 70% of Bay State doctors currently use some form of electronic health records, according to the Boston Business Journal.

Find out more about the health information exchange and electronic medical records here.


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