Monthly Archives: April 2010

More on EHR government funding

How EHR Stimulus Funds Are DistributedLast week's blog was a brief primer on what you should know about electronic health records including some information about how the government is beginning the process of defining meaningful use of EHR application that is essential to qualify for stimulus funds available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, ARRA, of 2009. Here is a schedule of how the stimulus funds will be made available to physicians that meet the government's criteria based on what year you implement EHR meeting the criteria.1st year funds and funds each consecutive year that follow2011: $18,000, $12,000, $8,000, $4,000, $2000 = Total: $44,0002012: $18,000, $12,000, $8,000, $4,000, $2,000 = Total: $44,0002013: $15,000, $12,000, $8,000, $4,000 - Total: $39,0002014: $12,000 $8,000, $4,000 = Total: $24,0002015: Total = $0Source: US Department of Health and Human ResourcesThis provides a snapshot revealing that implementing EHR before 2013 provides the greatest amount of stimulus funds. It's not too early to start researching implementing EHR into your practice, but keep a watchful eye on how the proposed legislation published in the Federal Register on January 13, 2010 is revised before it is finalized to make sure your EHR decision is in sync with government minimum standard requirements.The devil is in the detail! Judy Capko is one of America's leading practice management and marketing consultants. e mail judy@capko.com. zz

By |2022-01-01T22:52:59-08:00April 25th, 2010|

What you should know about electronic health records

The government's push for physicians to get on board with electronic health records, EHRs, is outlined in the passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, ARRA, of 2009 which has changed the landscape regarding electronic medical records.Federal stimulus funds are available that promise as much as $44,000 per physician to implement EHRs before the end of 2012 – Not all that far away.To get these funds, physicians have to prove meaningful use. Meaningful use is still in the process of being clearly defined by the Feds. Specific requirements are outlined in the proposed rule published in the January 13, 2010 Federal Register.Stage 1, the initial period of EHR described in the proposed rule, defines use focused on capturing health information electronically. 25 criteria for physicians to meet Stage 1 of meaningful use includes such things as:Maintaining an up-to-date problem list;Generating and transmitting at least 75% of all permissible prescriptions electronically;Maintaining an active medication list with at least 80% of all unique patients; and Having a least on entry providing clinical summaries to at least 80% of all patients for each office visit. You can see this will, indeed, change the way most physicians currently work and manage their patients’ health records. The proposed CMS requirements set the minimum standard for acceptable EHR use, which at this time means being CCHIT certified. This certification is accomplished through the Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology, which rates EHR products on usability ensuring that vendors meet the major objectives of meaningful use.Until the proposed legislation is finalized physicians will not have essential information to guide the decision process. In the meantime gather information to help you make an appropriate EHR decision. Selecting and EHR is a long and arduous road. Make sure you are armed with the tools to make the EHR decision that best fits your practice specific needs. Certainly the ARRA’s financial incentives are designed to convince many physicians to implement EHRs and will be effective in doing so. But don’t leap into it without a clear understanding of the government’s final requirements once legislation is passed. Contact Judy Capko,

By |2022-01-01T22:52:59-08:00April 21st, 2010|
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