As discussed way back in this thread, starting this year states are going to be administering an incentive payment program for Medicaid providers who adopt (and meaningfully use) electronic health records. The incentive payments are meant to help defray some of the costs of adopting EHRs, which goes beyond just buying the technology but also training staff to use it, redirecting workflow in an office to accommodate it, etc. The overarching goal of encouraging EHR adoption, of course, is to improve quality and, in the long run, help contain costs.
Now that it's 2011 the first states have started making incentive payments with more to follow.
Now that it's 2011 the first states have started making incentive payments with more to follow.
Kentucky and Oklahoma have become the first states to issue Medicaid incentive payments to health care providers who demonstrate meaningful use of certified electronic health records, Healthcare IT News reports.
Under the 2009 federal economic stimulus package, health care providers who demonstrate meaningful use of EHRs will qualify for incentive payments through Medicare and Medicaid.
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Other States Prepare for Payments
Iowa and Louisiana are expected to become the next states to administer Medicaid incentive payments for the meaningful use of EHRs, according to CMS (Healthcare IT News, 1/6).
In addition to those four states, Medicaid programs now accepting registration for incentive payments are:
- Alaska;
- Michigan;
- Mississippi;
- North Carolina;
- South Carolina;
- Tennessee; and
- Texas.
In February, registration will open in:
- California;
- Missouri; and
- North Dakota.
Other states plan to launch their incentive programs on a rolling basis during the spring and summer (Goedert, Health Data Management, 1/6).
Read more: Kentucky, Oklahoma First States To Dish Out Incentive Payments - iHealthBeat