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Home » About Us » Publications » HIT

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

VERY IMPORTANT:
Medicare to begin Physicians Incentives for those effectively using Electronic Health Record
Based on what is currently written in the Health Information Technology Provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act this is our best understanding of the incentives planned for physicians. They are all subject to change based on decisions made by Medicare. 
 
Meaningful EHR users will be eligible for the following incentive payments beginning in 2011 under Title IV- MEDICARE AND MEDICAID HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY; MISCELLANEOUS MEDICARE PROVISIONS:
  • 1st payment year $15,000 ($18,000 if you start in 2011 or 2012)
  • 2nd payment year $12,000
  • 3rd payment year $8,000
  • 4th payment year $4,000
  • 5th payment year $2,000
  • For any succeeding payment year $0
TOTAL POSSIBLE PAYMENT is $41,000 ($44,000 if you start in 2011 or 2012)
  • NO INCENTIVE PAYMENT IF FIRST ADOPTING AFTER 2014
  • For certain physicians who practice in “health professional shortage area” they may be eligible to receive 10% more.
 
Questions regarding qualifying for incentive payments:
1.         ARE ALL EHR PRODUCTS GOING TO QUALIFY FOR THIS INCENTIVE?
This is still unclear. On December 31, 2009 the standards, implementation specifications and certification criteria will be set for EHR’s. We believe these standards should be in line with CCHIT criteria, but it is eligible to change. This is something CIPA will stay attuned to and make sure to relay any pertinent information.
 
2.         WHAT DOES BEING A MEANINGFUL USER OF EHR MEAN?
Providers must demonstrate the following during each payment year and beyond:
  • e-prescribing
  • EHR is connected and able to exchange health information to improve quality of care, such as promoting care coordination (in accordance to laws and regs)
  • Must submit information on clinical quality measures and other measures not yet selected and hopefully show improvement over time of use of EHR and health care quality
  • These criteria are also eligible to change be added to 
 
3.        HOW DO YOU PROVE YOU ARE A MEANINGFUL USER?
 
This is still unclear but it may be include documenting in the following ways:
  • An attestation
  • Submission of claims with appropriate codes (PQRI)
  • Survey response
  • Other reporting (registries)
 
4.        WHAT IF I DO NOT WANT TO ADOPT EHR, ARE THERE ANY NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES?
 

Covered professional services furnished by an eligible provider during 2015 or any subsequent year, if the eligible professional is not a meaningful EHR user, there will be a decrease in fee schedule by 1% in year 1, 2 % year 2, 3 % year 3 and so on. This is also eligible to change.

 

Potential Benefits of an EHR (from the AAFP)

Benefits of an EHR can be categorized as follows:

Potential Productivity and Financial Improvement
  • Fewer chart pulls
  • Improved efficiency of handling telephone messages and medication refills
  • Improved billing
  • Reduced transcription costs
  • Increased formulary compliance and clearer prescriptions leading to fewer pharmacy call backs
  • Improved coding of visits
Additional potential benefits may include: population management and proactive patient reminders; improved reimbursement from payers due to EHR usage; and participation in pay-for-performance programs.
Quality of Care Improvement
  • Easier preventive care leading to increased preventive care services
  • Point-of-care decision support
  • Rapid and remote access to patient information
  • Easier chronic disease management
  • Integration of evidence-based clinical guidelines
Job Satisfaction Improvement
  • Fewer repetitive, tedious tasks
  • Less "chart chasing"
  • Improved intra-office communication
  • Access to patient information while on-call or at the hospital
  • Easier compliance with regulations
  • Demonstrable high-quality care
Customer Satisfaction Improvement
  • Quick access to their records
  • Reduced turn-around time for telephone messages and medication refills
  • A more efficient office leads to improved care access for patients
  • Improved continuity of care (fewer visits without the chart)
  • Improved delivery of patient education materials