EHR/EMR Incentives

EHR/EMR Incentives for Medical Practices

The government passed a stimulus package (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009), which will provide the medical industry with $19 billion to assist with the implementation of electronic health records (EHRs).

Physicians proving they meet the meaningful use of EHR, would be eligible to receive up to $64,000 over six years, and hospitals can qualify for $2 million to $8 million in incentives.

Incentives begin in 2011; therefore, in order to receive the maximum incentive reimbursement you will need to be compliant sooner rather than later.

Providers can qualify for incentives under either Medicare or Medicaid but not both. Physicians qualifying under the Medicare portion can receive up to $44,000, and those qualifying under the Medicaid incentive can qualify for up to $64,000.

Those that do not implement the EHR technology will be penalized starting in 2015, from a reduction in Medicare payment of 1% increasing to 5% over time.

Metroplex Tech is a premier managed service provider with a focus on the health care industry. Having worked with numerous practices over the years, Technology Solutions has implemented and supported various EHR and practice management solutions.

Metroplex Tech can assist you in finding the right EHR solution for your practice, assure your network environment is optimized to make the implementation process smooth and maintain and support your entire IT infrastructure.

Visit The Official Web Site for the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Records (EHR) Incentive Programs

The Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs will provide incentive payments to eligible professionals, eligible hospitals and critical access hospitals (CAHs) as they adopt, implement, upgrade or demonstrate meaningful use of certified EHR technology.

Registration for the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Program is now open. Participate early to get the maximum incentive payments!

Check on the links below for up-to-date, detailed information about the Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs.

• Use the Path to Payment page to find out how to participate in these programs.

• Overview of the Medicare EHR Incentive Program.

• Overview of the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program.

• Calendar of important dates.

• Downloads and related links.

Electronic Health Record (EHR) or Electronic Medical Record (EMR)?

Sometimes people use the terms "Electronic Medical Record" or "EMR" when talking about Electronic Health Record (EHR) technology. Very often an Electronic Medical Record or EMR is just another way to describe an Electronic Health Record or EHR, and both providers and vendors sometimes use the terms interchangeably. For the purposes of the Medicare and Medicaid Incentive Programs, eligible professionals, eligible hospitals and critical access hospitals (CAHs) must use ­certified EHR technology. Certified EHR technology gives assurance to purchasers and other users that an EHR system or module offers the necessary technological capability, functionality, and security to help them meet the meaningful use criteria. Certification also helps providers and patients be confident that the electronic health IT products and systems they use are secure, can maintain data confidentially, and can work with other systems to share information. For more information about which EHR systems and modules are certified for the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs, please visit http://healthit.hhs.gov/.

The Medicare EHR Incentive Program 

• The Medicare EHR Incentive Program will provide incentive payments to eligible professionals, eligible hospitals, and CAHs that demonstrate meaningful use of certified EHR technology.

  • Participation can begin as early as 2011.

  • Eligible professionals can receive up to $44,000 over five years under the Medicare EHR Incentive Program. There's an additional incentive for eligible professionals who provide services in a Health Professional Shortage Area (HSPA).

  • To get the maximum incentive payment, Medicare eligible professionals must begin participation by 2012.

  • Incentive payments for eligible hospitals and CAHs may begin as early as 2011 and are based on a number of factors, beginning with a $2 million base payment.

  • Important! For 2015 and later, Medicare eligible professionals, eligible hospitals, and CAHs that do not successfully demonstrate meaningful use will have a payment adjustment in their Medicare reimbursement.

• Note: If you are a Medicare Advantage Plan (like an HMO or PPO), please visit the Medicare Advantage page.

The Medicaid EHR Incentive Program

• The Medicaid EHR Incentive Program will provide incentive payments to eligible professionals, eligible hospitals, and CAHs as they adopt, implement, upgrade, or demonstrate meaningful use of certified EHR technology in their first year of participation and demonstrate meaningful use for up to five remaining participation years.

  • The Medicaid EHR Incentive Program is voluntarily offered by individual states and territories and may begin as early as 2011, depending on the state.

  • Eligible professionals can receive up to $63,750 over the six years that they choose to participate in the program.

  • Eligible hospital incentive payments may begin as early as 2011, depending on when the state begins its program. The last year a Medicaid eligible hospital may begin the program is 2016. Hospital payments are based on a number of factors, beginning with a $2 million base payment.

  • There are no payment adjustments under the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program.

Call us at 214-717-5539 to speak to an EHR Specialist today.

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