WASHINGTON--A Senate bill introduced last week would award a half billion dollars a year for health information technology.

Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., authored the proposal, which would fund the initiative from 2006 to 2011. Half of the funds would be in grants and half would be in loans. Additional legislation, written by Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., is expected to be introduced later this month.

Dodd's proposal also would create a new executive office of National Health Information Technology to encourage the adoption of health IT.

The bill comes a week after HHS Secretary Michael Leavitt--a proponent of health IT--announced the creation of the American Health Information Community to advise the department on making health records digital and interoperable. The agency is soliciting nominations for people to serve on the AHIC, which will be composed of 17 members. Leavitt also said HHS will issue four requests for proposals (RFPs) that will create processes for setting data standards, certification and architecture for an Internet-based nationwide health information exchange, as well as assess patient privacy and security policies.

To submit a nomination, e-mail a letter of intent and resume to onchit.request@hhs.gov and write "AHIC Nomination" in the subject line.