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Meaningful Use
Meaningful Use, What You Need to Know…WhichWay1
“Meaningful Use” (MU) is a serious subject when it comes to money. Not only are there significant incentives for properly adopting an Electronic Medical Records (EMR) or Electronic Health Records (EHR) system, there are also real penalties for those who decline to participate.
Alphajen is committed to helping you achieve the necessary MU milestones. We present here an overview of what you need to know – whether you are already a Alphajen customer, or just coming to terms with the need for an EMR system. Further Reform_Timeline1information is available by contacting us directly or checking out the resource links provided.
Money isn’t the only factor.
Although the economic incentives for adopting and using an Electronic Medical Records system are a part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the goals of the HITECH Act are actually much more comprehensive. Earning these incentive payments is tied to the long term goals of improving clinical outcomes and improving our healthcare infrastructure systems.
Key Program goals:
• Improve quality, safety, efficiency and reduce health disparities
• Engage patients and families
• Improve care coordination
• Improve population and public health
• Ensure adequate privacy and security protections for patient health
information
Medicare and Medicaid Incentive Payments – How do I qualify?
It is important to note that while the incentive programs for Medicare and Medicaid providers are similar, they are not identical. Here we will only address the Medicare version of the program.
The key to receiving payment is to have:
Eligible professionals, using a qualified EHR solution and demonstrating meaningful use.
Eligible professionals include: Doctors of medicine, osteopathy, dental surgery,dental medicine, podiatric medicine, or optometry and chiropractors.
Qualified EHR solutions are those certified by an approved organization, such as the Certification Commission on Health IT, (CCHIT).
Meaningful Use means meeting specific performance and reporting criteria.
Incentive payment amounts and timing
Incentive payments can begin after March 2011, the first possible 90-day reporting period. The maximum payment schedule for Medicare providers is shown below. The Medicaid schedule is different, and providers cannot receive both Medicare and Medicaid incentives. Medicare providers can continue to participate in the PQRI program, but will not receive any funds from the eRx program.
Beginning in 2015, Medicare providers who are not able to demonstrate Meaningful Use will be subject to a reduction in their reimbursements which begins at 1% in the first year and subsequently increases to as high as a 5% reduction.
Demonstrating Meaningful Use
In order to satisfy the Meaningful Use tests, criteria in two separate categories, “Core” and “Menu” must be met. A total of 20 criteria must be met, unless certain exceptions apply. In addition there are also “clinical quality measures” that must be recorded and reported.
External Useful Links
Helpful “Tip Sheet” from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (www.cms.gov)
Medicare Incentive Payments Tip Sheet (PDF)
Direct link to the official Web site for the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs
www.cms.gov/EHRIncentivePrograms
ARRA HITECH
The ARRA Stimulus incentives promise to make it easier for medical practices to afford EHR technology, but details are still emerging on just how to take advantage of this program. Computer Zone can help you navigate the details to make sure you get the right EHR for your practice and are well informed of the processes you will need to follow to achieve the “meaningful use” required to get your share of the incentives.
Stimulus overview:
Approximately $20 Billion allocated for financial incentives for physicians that adopt EHR
Can total up to $44,000 per physician (Medicare) or $63,250 per physician (Medicaid)
Payouts began in 2011
Requires usage of a “certified” EHR system and verified compliance with “meaningful use” criteria
Final definitions for certification and meaningful use are still to be determined, but will almost certainly include E-Prescribing and electronic reporting of quality measures
Preliminary meaningful use rule issued, final rule expected shortly
Disincentives for physicians not using EHR begin in 2015
Additional Resources:
Health Information Management Systems Society (HIMSS) – HIMSS is the leading national association dedicated to the development of Health Information Technology and offers a variety of resources on its website that better enable medical practices to understand and become prepared to receive Stimulus funding.
Resources
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