Eligible Professionals and
Eligible Hospitals that are planning to participate in the Medicare EHR
incentive program will be able to register on line beginning January 3,
2011. State Medicaid programs also scheduled to begin registration on
January 3, 2011 are Alaska, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Michigan,
Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas. States
targeting for February are California, Missouri, and North Dakota. All other
states will probably not have registrations until the spring or summer.
You do not have to have a certified EHR system purchased or implemented to
register for the program. You will however need your certified system
implemented and functioning to attest to the 90 day reporting. Click here for the
information that is required to register for the Medicare and Medicaid EHR
Incentive Programs.
Future important dates include:
April 2011 - Attestation for the Medicare EHR
Incentive Program begins.
May 2011 - EHR Incentive Payments expected to begin.
July 3, 2011 - Last day for eligible hospitals to
begin their 90-day reporting period to demonstrate meaningful use for the
Medicare EHR Incentive Program.
Medical practice members
are still struggling to understand not only the financial labyrinths but the
technical aspects of EHR systems as well.
The key to realizing the increased
productivity, financial gains and improved efficiency of EHR systems is to make
sure all parts of the system seamlessly communicate with each other. This
includes the hospital systems and any other interfacing system used in the
practice. To assist with understanding of EHR systems, medical practice
members and physicians can:
- Attend seminars and workshops in
their area
- Meet with three to five EHR
system providers to understand the features that will work best
with YOUR environment
- Talk to other medical practices
to see what works best
- Talk to you medical
billing/practice management company if you outsource this function