How an EHR implementation will benefit a clinician

Implementing Electronic Medical Records is mandatory for clinics by 2014

As a health care provider if you use Certified Electronic Medical Record Software, you can qualify for a $44,000 Medicare Incentive; physicians will be compensated with an amount that will equal an additional 75% of the charges that are allowed for professional services rendered by physicians, these incentives are for 5 years, beginning 2011 and ending 2016.

The table below is indicative of the benefits of a ‘meaningful” implementation of the EHR, and the penalties that will be levied for non-compliance of the EHR by the year 2014

Healthcare payments are increased by 10% for providers that are located in areas which have a shortage of health professionals.

In 2018 the reductions will depend on the analysis by HHS, if less than 75% of physicians implement the certified EHRs  the HHS will be authorized to continue payments, however the payment reductions will not fall below 95% of the Medicare payment the providers would have been otherwise entitled to receive.

Healthcare Providers that are excluded from Medicare Incentives

Hospital based professionals, such as radiologist, pathologists, etc that serve an in-patient facility are excluded from the Medicare Incentives, however there are exceptions for professionals employed in a hospital serving an ambulatory clinic or physicians that have a billing arrangement for submitting claims to Medicare either with hospitals or other entity’s.

 How HHS defines a ‘meaningful’ user?

The Clinicians have to demonstrate to the HHS the meaningful manner a certified EHR technology is being used, the features should include

• Electronic Prescribing
• EHR technology must have features for electronic exchange of healthcare information

• Submission of clinical quality measure and other measures to HHS

The specific definition of “Meaningful Use” has not been mentioned in the bill; however an advisory guidance that determines this will be given by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS).The universal standards for EHR systems is required to be developed and published by the end of the year 2010. The vendors that build the EHR systems will need to seek certification for meeting the standards, and all providers that use certified EHR systems will receive incentives.

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