DHHS, Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology

Lewin contact: Clifford Goodman

In August 2004, The Lewin Group was retained by the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, US Department of Health and Human Services, to convene a Health Information Technology Leadership Panel (HIT Leadership Panel) and report on its findings. The HIT Leadership Panel met in Washington, DC, on November 29, 2004, to examine the importance of investing in HIT, particularly regarding the respective major roles of government and the private sector in its widespread implementation. HIT Leadership Panel members were drawn from executives in widely recognized companies that purchase substantial levels of health care for their employees. Companies with little or no direct involvement in the health care or information technology (IT) industry sectors were selected with the intention of learning how IT has been successfully adopted and used by other sectors. On May 11, 2005, Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt issued the report of the HIT Leadership Panel findings at the Business Rountable's CEO Health Care Summit where Secretary Leavitt and Treasury Secretary John Snow discussed the burden of rising health care costs on the U.S. economy and global competitiveness and the role of health IT in managing these costs. Following the Roundtable meeting, Secretary held a press conference with FedEx Corporation CEO Frederick Smith and Pepsico CEO Steven Reinemund to release the report.

"Throughout the engagement, Lewin consultants listened to us and delivered superb analyses and thoughtful guidance–not canned solutions."  NONPROFIT HEALTH SYSTEM