President Obama signed into law an economic stimulus bill that includes funding for a range of health care initiatives. Included in the measure are the following health-related provisions:
$44,000 in physician incentive payments for the use of electronic health records;
$500 million for the National Health Service Corps and health professions education programs;
$87 billion in Medicaid funds for states to expand eligibility and improve coverage;
$25 billion to partially underwrite health insurance costs for unemployed workers who want to keep employer-sponsored health insurance;
$2 billion for operations and capital needs at community health centers;
$1 billion for prevention and wellness programs;
$1 billion for comparative effectiveness research on clinical outcomes, effectiveness, and risk and benefits of treatment options; and
Restoration of $191 million in Medicare Indirect Medical Education payments.
