HHS names former Harvard Professor Blumenthal as National Health Care Information Technology Coordinator

HHS on Friday announced the appointment of former Harvard Medical School professor David Blumenthal as the national coordinator for health care information technology, the AP/Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Among other responsibilities, Blumenthal, who has conducted a number of studies related to health care IT, will have a large role in the process used to determine how HHS spends the $19 billion for health care IT included in the recently enacted economic stimulus package.

Blumenthal previously served as director of the Institute for Health Policy at the Massachusetts General Hospital/Partners HealthCare System and as a senior adviser to President Obama during his campaign. In addition, he worked on the staff of Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) in the late 1970s and served as chief health adviser to former Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis (D) during his presidential campaign in 1988 (AP/Philadelphia Inquirer, 3/20).