Dear Senator:

On behalf of RetireSafe’s nearly 400,000 senior-citizen supporters and the more than 35 million Americans aged 65 and over, we urge you to support widespread deployment of Health Information Technology (IT), and to help pass legislation as soon as possible to bring it to the American people. Health IT will allow hospitals and medical professionals to make use of network and computer technology to improve care, increase convenience, help keep costs under control, and reduce deaths and injuries due to medical errors.

RetireSafe works for practical solutions to America’s retirement security challenges, including health care. Health IT is an especially valuable step in improving the health care system to provide benefits all Americans want and need.

Since a significant portion of health care expenses comes in the retirement years, we have a special interest in working for Health IT. For instance, it makes possible interactive support for the elderly and those with chronic conditions and provides superior electronic record-keeping to eliminate duplicative and unnecessary tests.

Health IT will significantly reduce the more than 100,000 deaths that occur each year due to medical errors, and save billions annually. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services notes that the adoption of electronic medical records could reduce health spending by as much as 30 percent annually.

RetireSafe strongly supports higher quality health care, with better choices and lower costs. Health IT can make that a reality not only for retirees but for all Americans. We urge you to support Health IT legislation now!

Sincerely,

Michelle Plasari
President