Microsoft on health IT spending

Peter Neupert, corporate vice-president in Microsoft's Health Solutions Group, believes the federal government's health IT spending plan has the objectives backwards. According to a commentary piece in Forbes, Neupert argues that federal spending should focus on addressing the high costs of chronic illness with IT investments targeted to support that effort.

Neupert:

"Given that 75% of health care costs stem from six chronic diseases, I'd argue that we should focus on preventing and managing these conditions, and then figure out the right technologies to support those goals. This type of focus on specific goals will enable us to deliver better care at lower costs to the whole system and get a real return on investment for health IT"

Also in Forbes, two partners at the Boston Consulting Group make the case for federal investment in health IT.