The implementation of electronic health records became essential after the announcement of the ARRA Act of 2009 which announced incentives of approximately $27 billion over 10 years for eligible professionals who adopt EHR technology. The HITECH Act, a subsection of the ARRA Act allocates $19 billion for Health Information Technology (HIT) - the Medicare EHR incentive program will be paying as much as $44,000 for Medicare eligible professionals over a 5 year time span and $63,750 for Medicaid eligible professionals over a 6 year time span. Eligible professionals are defined as doctors of medicine or osteopathy, doctors of dental surgery, doctors of podiatric medicine, doctors of optometry and chiropractors that demonstrate the “meaningful use” of certified EHR technology. “Meaningful use” means that providers will demonstrate certified EHR technology through:
• E- Prescribing, and electronic exchange of health information to labs, public health agencies and insurances
• Using a certified EHR that will automate and connect practices under
• Putting aside pen & paper by adopting (CPOE) computerized provider order entry
• Basic data entry of patient records i.e. demographics, vital signs, etc.
• Recording active medications and allergies
• Maintaining up-to-date problem lists of current & active diagnosis
• Smoking status for at least 50% of patients 13 years old or older
• Sending patient reminders for preventive/follow-up care
• Checking insurance eligibility electronically from public and private payers
• Submitting claims electronically to public and private payers
• Reporting ambulatory quality measures to CMS (PQRI) via an electronic health record
• Implementing clinical decision support rules
The EHR incentive reporting period for the starting year is 90 continuous days during the calendar year. In subsequent years the reporting period is the entire calendar year. The EHR Incentive program also benefits patients and families by:
• Providing patients with an electronic copy of their health information (including diagnostic test results, problem lists, medication lists, and allergies) upon request
• Providing patients with timely electronic access to their health information (including diagnostic test results, problem lists, medication lists, and allergies)
• Providing clinical summaries to patients for each office visit
Certified electronic health records will not only qualify eligible professionals for incentive bonuses but will also give them the following benefits:
• Error reduction, instant data availability and record retrieval
• Clinical decision support
• Reminders, alterations and refill automation
• Improve population and public health
It is very important for providers to choose the right EHR system in order to gain incentives and to avoid penalties. Both the provider and the patient will benefit from an early transition to “meaningful use” of certified EHR technology.