The value of the federal government's investments in health information technology – better, cheaper care – may not be fully realized unless information can be safely and easily exchanged between health care providers, the New York Times blog Bits reports. General Electric on Thursday introduced a new business unit, eHealth, that will pursue a solution to this challenge.

"The main target for G.E.'s new business unit is in providing the technology and expertise to build regional and statewide Health Information Exchanges, as these planned data-sharing hubs are now being called. An initial $564 million grant from federal government to the states will provide seed money to get things started" (Lohr, 10/29).
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