HITECH’s Impact on EHR Implementations
Software Advice, a trusted resource for medical software buyers, recently published results of a long-term study following demand drivers among prospective buyers of electronic health records (EHR) software.
In 2009, in the wake of the HITECH act, Software Advice analysts speculated that physicians rushing to qualify for incentives might make hasty purchase decisions, leading to unsuccessful [...]
New CDC Survey: Over Half Of U.S. Physicians Adopt an EHR
As reported by HealthDay News, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics has found that over half of US doctors are utilizing some sort of electronic health record (EHR).
What’s more, 85% of those surveyed indicate satisfaction with the system’s operation in their day-to-day workflow. We’re very pleased with this number.
While not all of the [...]
Small Medical Offices Take Lead in Growth of EHR Adoption, According to SK&A Study
Government incentives and industry promotion play role in converting solo practices to paperless technology
Small medical offices with one or two physicians in the practice are the fastest-growing segment for adoption of Electronic Health Records (EHR) software, according to the latest results of an ongoing study by SK&A, A Cegedim Company, a leading provider of healthcare information [...]
EHR Meaningful Use Stage 2 Proposals Released
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC) announced the proposed requirements for Stage 2 Meaningful Use and 2014 certification of electronic health records.
Following a 60-day comment period after the proposals are published to the federal register, the final rule is scheduled for release this summer.
The [...]
EHR Meaningful Use for The Medical Manager Practice Management Software
Looking for an electronic health record solution that will allow you to KEEP your Medical Manager practice management software? Look no further. Join Harmony Healthcare IT for a webinar on Thur., 2/16/12 at 11am EST for a 30-min. overview on how to achieve EHR meaningful use using The Medical Manager software.
WEBINAR: EHR for Medical Manager
This session is [...]
EHR Meaningful Use Registration Stats Updated by CMS
According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), 18,619 eligible professionals registered for the Medicare or Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs last month. That brings total registrations during 2011 to 124,089 EPs for Medicare meaningful use and 39,503 EPs for Medicaid meaningful use. For 2011, over $2.5 billion was paid out in meaningful use incentives. You can find the [...]
Radiologists and ‘Meaningful Use’, A KLAS Report
A new report that surveyed over 200 radiologists about the meaningful use of electronic health records has recently been released from vendor research firm KLAS Enterprises. KLAS partnered with the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) to survey over 200 radiologists.
Here are some hi-level findings from the survey respondents:
60% plan to or are considering achieving [...]
CMS Meaningful Use Eligibility Widget
CMS has developed a web tool to help providers determine in which EHR Incentive Program they are eligible to participate. The tool can be found on the CMS EHR Incentive Programs website: http://www.cms.gov/EHRIncentivePrograms. Check it out.
Here are some basics:
Incentive payments for eligible professionals are based on individual practitioners.
If you are part of a practice, each [...]
EHR Meaningful Use Payments Increasing Steadily
Attestations and payments for Meaningful Use of electronic health records, while off to a slow start, are starting to increase in volume. Year-to-date, under the Meaningful Use program, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services payouts are just under $400 million. A recent article in Fierce EMR breaks down the number of registrations and payouts by Medicare [...]
CMS Medicare EHR Incentive Program Deadlines
It’s time to check in on the CMS Medicare EHR Meaningful Use Incentive Program timetable:
October 3, 2011. The last day for eligible professionals to begin their 90-day reporting period for calendar year 2011 for the Medicare EHR Incentive Program is 10/3/11.
December 31, 2011. The reporting year for eligible professionals ends on 12/31/11.
February 29, 2012. If [...]
EHR Meaningful Use Registrations On the Rise
According to iHealthBeat, about 13,000 eligible health care providers signed up in August for the meaningful use program, an increase of 30% from July. That’s in addition to the 90,000 health care providers that had registered for the electronic health record meaningful use incentive program by the end of August.
In terms of stimulus funding, the [...]
Subsidizing EHR Purchases with Meaningful Use Dollars
Many physicians have funded their electronic health record (EHR) purchases with the CMS meaningful use incentive payments. Take a look at this article, written by Joseph Goedert and published by Health Data Management earlier this month. The article tells the story of several practices — from single docs to larger groups — who have subsidized their [...]
CMS to Explain Meaningful Use Clinical Quality Measures on Aug. 30th
The Office of Clinical Quality and Standards at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will host a webinar from 1-3pm EST on August 30th to explain the clinical quality measures in the Medicare electronic health records meaningful use program. The agenda calls for
an overview of the measures
why the measures are a part of achieving meaningful use
how to report the [...]
CMS to Host EHR “Meaningful Use” Teleconference on 8/18/11
On Thursday, August 18,2011 from 1:30-3:00 EST, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will host an EHR Incentive Program teleconference on “Understanding Meaningful Use.”
This is an opportunity for eligible hospitals, CAHs and eligible professionals to learn about the meaningful use requirements of the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs. Helpful resources will be [...]
To Keep or Replace Sage Medical Manager® to comply with ‘Meaningful Use’ and 5010/ICD-10? THAT is the Question.
Achieving meaningful use of an electronic health record (EHR) is not the only deadline facing medical practices. By federal mandate, in January of 2012, practices must process claims in the new 5010 format, a transaction standard that will support ICD-10 codes. And then, by October of 2013, practices must successfully convert to ICD-10, an expanded [...]
CMS to Host “EHR Incentive Program Basics” for EPs on 7/14/11
On Thursday, July 14,2011, CMS will host “Medicare & Medicaid EHR Incentive Program Basics for Eligible Professionals” from 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM EST. This session is intended for eligible professionals who are individual practitioners. Registration will close at 1:30 PM ET on Wednesday, July 13, 2011, or when available space has been filled. Some of the questions [...]
Health IT Growth Indicators from the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology
According to an article published yesterday in HealthLeaders Media, Farzad Mostashari, MD, the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, laid out a list of leading IT growth indicators at a recent National Health IT Summit in Washington DC:
EHR adoption by primary care physicians. After 20 years the rate of adoption of electronic health records by primary [...]
EHR Meaningful Use Deadlines
Following are some dates for EHR Incentive Program meaningful use reporting:
07/03/11: the last day for eligible hospitals and critical access hospitals to start their 90-day reporting period for the fiscal year 2011 Medicare electronic health records meaningful use incentive program.
09/30/11: the last day of the federal fiscal year under which the hospital program operates.
10/03/11: the last day [...]
EHR Meaningful Use Bonus Checks Go Out
In the first two weeks of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services incentive program, $75 million was paid out in bonuses for the meaningful use of electronic medical records.
CMS announced mid-May that more than 300 physicians, hospitals and other eligible EMR users qualified for the first stage of the meaningful use incentive program and received payments.
Starting [...]
Delay EHR Meaningful Use Stage 2 for Those That Attest in 2011?
According to Health Data Management, the meaningful use workgroup of the Health I.T. Policy Committee, which advises the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, is recommending that Stage 2 of electronic health records be delayed by one year to 2014 for providers who attest to Stage 1 meaningful use in 2011.
The rationale [...]