Taxpayer Calculator: How Much Will the Transition to Digital Medical Records Cost You?

Going to the doctor is going paperless, as new Obama administration rules require hospitals and physicians to convert millions of paper patient files to digital records. Medical providers will have to electronically record certain information like a patient's weight, blood pressure, prescriptions and allergies by 2011. Every year after that will require more information or "measures" to be put into computers.

"A big part of where the government is going is to try to make the data flow more freely amongst providers and hospitals so that your data goes with you instead of staying with the hospital or doctor," said Dr. Michael Swiernik, UCLA Director of Medical Informatics.

The result, advocates say, are lower costs, better care and improved safety.

"It'll make sure that any medicines that I prescribe for them don't contradict with current medicines that they're on," says Dr. Jeffrey Feit, Vice President of Medical Affairs at Page Memorial Hospital in Luray, Va. "Those are all things that I would have had to remember to do when I was doing things on paper, and now the computer reminds me each time."

To help defray the cost, the feds will hand out $19 billion in stimulus money. A total of $27 billion is expected to be spent over 10 years.

Providers who meet government imposed deadlines get higher Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements for up to five years. Those who don't make the switch by 2015 get docked up to 3 percent in payments. Some worry smaller or rural hospitals can't afford the penalty and lack upfront money to make the transition.

"It doesn't pay for the cost of putting it in or running it but it does help defray a little of that cost and you don't get it back until a few years after you get it in, " said Swiernik.

There's also concerns about potential breaches of privacy.

"Breaches of privacy have been a big issue with electronic health records," said Dr. Michael Herbst, a family medicine doctor at UCLA. " We're always hearing about that, that someone's had their privacy invaded or that someone's name or social security number has been stolen. That is a huge and important concern. We are working as hard as one can possibly work on that. We are encrypting all of our laptops."

So how much is this use of $19 billion in stimulus money costing you? Click here to find out by using Fox News' Taxpayer Calculator. Just type in your income and it calculates your share of the cost. You can also vote and tell Congress if you think this is a wise use of your money.

Laura Prabucki contributed to this report.