Five Things Doctors Need to Know

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) put in place financial benefits to physicians to use Electronic Health Records (EHR) technology. Here are 5 things that every physician should know about ARRA and the Stimulus Incentives.

1. The Doctor Must Demonstrate Use of the EHR.

   Purchasing an EHR will not get you reimbursed. You must purchase an EHR, and then use it in a meaningful way, and then demonstrate that meaningful use. Your EHR vendor cannot demonstrate meaningful use, and should not promise meaningful use. It is up to you.

2. Incentives are Real.

   Most physicians are skeptical about the government bearing gifts. These have gifts have strings attached. Both Democrats and Republicans believe that they will save in government expenditures over the long run (although they disagree about how much they save), by having physicians use EHRs.

   So the money is real.

3. Up to $63,750 in Incentive Dollars is Available.

   Medicaid provider can earn nearly $64,000. Medicare providers can earn $44,000 over a period of 5 years. The reimbursements are front-loaded, so you get the cash earlier to offset expenditures to become meaningful users. The most you can get is if you are meaningful in the first or second year. Based on the cost of money, you are strongly incentivized to become meaningful by January 1, 2011.

4. You'd Better Hurry.

   Act now. If you don't already have an EHR that will become certified, you will need to purchase. That could take a couple of months to investigate and make a buying decision. If you delay that process, your chosen vendor may not be able to implement you in time for January 2011. Most major vendors have indicated that they expect an implementation backlog, due to late product demand.

   Additionally, you must become meaningful users, not just basic users. You need time to work out the kinks in your EHR workflow. If you implement after Thanksgiving, Meaningful Use on January 1st will be very unlikely.

   Lastly, if haven't demonstrated meaningful use by 2015, you will begin to see a punitive cut in your Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements.

5. The Certification Rules Have Changed.

   CCHIT was previously the government's only accredited certifying body. That accreditation ended in 2009, with a new administration. HHS expects to have multiple certifying bodies accredited by the end of summer 2010. CCHIT has applied, and believes they will be accredited. In the interim, all previous certifications are irrelevant.

   Look for a vendor guarantee that they will become government certified. Look for a product that you believe you can use every day. From there, make your EHR decision and plan to become meaningful.