On January 3, 2011, eligible professionals and hospitals participating in Medicare and Medicaid programs may begin registering for electronic health record (“EHR”) incentive programs. CMS encourages providers to register for the Medicare and/or Medicaid EHR Incentive Program(s) as soon as possible. Providers may register prior to having a certified EHR or an enrollment record in PECOS. Providers may also register for the Texas Medicaid EHR Incentive program on January 3, 2011.
Under the HITECH Act of 2009, the Medicare and Medicaid EHR incentive programs provide a financial reward for the meaningful use of qualified, certified EHRs to achieve health and efficiency goals. “Meaningful use” means meeting a series of objectives that utilize the potential of EHRs and relate to the improvement of quality, efficiency and patient safety in the healthcare system through the use of certified EHR technology.
Further information on EHR incentives is detailed in our previous blog post. Also, CMS has compiled a list of frequently asked questions about the EHR incentive program.
