A $50 million electronic medical record pilot program sponsored by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts is experimenting in three local communities: Brockton, North Adams and Newburyport. The project is being "closely watched" by health officials around the country, according to the Boston Globe. The fact that an insurer is footing the bill is considered a major plus by many observers. In many initiatives physicians are expected to pay for implementing EMRs and deal with all of the hassles of converting their practices. Of course, non-profit Blues plans, which are running up large "surpluses," have some incentive to be seen channeling that money back into the medical community.
- see the story from the Boston Globe