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Senate Passes Economic Stimulus Package

New legislation might impact your wallet

Updated: Tuesday, 10 Feb 2009, 6:21 PM EST
Published : Tuesday, 10 Feb 2009, 6:20 PM EST
Rich Newberg

CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. (WIVB) - The Senate has passed it's version of an economic stimulus package.

The new legislation might impact your wallet and improve the quality of health care you receive.

The $838 Billion dollar bill barely got enough GOP backing to survive.

It focuses more on tax cuts than the House plan, which includes more new spending. But the Senate plan includes major Medicaid relief for Erie County, $45 million dollars over a two year period, or $400,000 a week in Medicaid relief, money that would bypass the State.

Erie County Executive Chris Collins said, "The federal bill has it coming directly to the local governments. I'd be concerned if it was going through Albany."

The county could use the money to reduce property taxes or invest in major projects.

President Barack Obama, cheered on by an optimistic crowd in Fort Myers, Florida, where unemployment has hit 10 percent, is hoping the Senate and House can come up with compromise legislation in the next few days.

President Obama said, "We can't afford to posture and bicker and resort to the same failed ideas that got us into this mess in the first place."

One new idea likely to find backing is the use of high speed technology to make the health care system more efficient, from your doctor's office, to the emergency room.

Representative Brian Higgins (D-South Buffalo) said, "In the short term, twenty billion dollar investment, people are going to have to buy the computers. People are going to have to make the computers. People are going to have to create the software."

HEALTHeLINK™ in western New York has already designed a system, at the speed of the Internet, to immediately put your medical records into the hands of whoever is treating you.

Healthecare Executive Director Dan Porreca said, "It's about saving lives and saving money. It's about improving the quality of care and lowering the cost of care for the community."

Congressman Higgins says about 25 percent of American physicians are computerized with centralized records. In New Zealand, the figure is 98 percent.

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