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  • EHR Incentive Program Resource Center

    • Billing & Coding Photo READ MORE

      What is the incentive program?

      The $19 billion in funding for health information technology (HIT) in the federal economic stimulus bill offers some big promises to physicians who use electronic medical records (EMRs) in a "meaningful" way. There are incentives for physicians who treat Medicare and/or Medicaid patients. If a physician participates in the Medicare and Medicaid program, they can receive incentives from only one program. TMA encourages physicians to proceed with caution and tap into our available resources to make wise decisions regarding EMR selection and implementation. 
       
  • What Are the Differences Between the Medicare and Medicaid Incentive Programs?

    • Physicians are eligible for bonus payments from Medicare or Medicaid for the meaningful use of an electronic health record (EHR). Eligibility and program administration differ between the programs. If a physician participates in the Medicare and Medicaid program, they can receive incentives from only one program. Use the resources below to learn the differences between the incentive programs.

       

      EHR incentive eligibility tool
      Use this tool from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to determine if you are eligible for one of the incentive programs.  

      Medicare and Medicaid Incentive Programs Comparison  (PDF) 

      Incentive chart (PDF)

      Incentive Calculator - Created by Harris County Medical Society (HCMS)  membersonlyred(2)  

      EHR Incentive Program Timeline 

       Instruction guides for the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs

  • How Do I Meet Meaningful Use?

    • Use the following tools and resources to meet the meaningful use requirements.

       

       Instruction guides for the Medicare   and   Medicaid   EHR Incentive Programs 

      Meaningful Use Achievement Toolkit - This tool was created to assist physicians with the various meaningful use criteria. Currently, four EHR vendors are included in the toolkit.

      How Do I Meet Meaningful Use? - Stage 1 criteria

      Meaningful Use Public Health Measures 

      Overview of Proposed Stage 2 Meaningful Use - CMS

      CMS Meaningful Use Calculator – CMS  

      Meaningful Use Core Measures Info – CMS  

      Meaningful Use webinar handout 

  • What if I Need Help?

    • Get your incentive money.

       

      Regional Extension Centers (RECs) have been established across the country to assist physicians with selection, implementation, and meaningful use of an electronic health record to ensure eligible physicians meet the requirements needed to earn the EHR incentive bonus.

      Four regional extension centers are operating in Texas and provide subsidized consulting services to physicians. Visit the TMA REC page for more details on location, eligibility and contact information.


      Read the article: A Good Deal: RECs Offer $5,000 in Services for $300 (Texas Medicine, April 2011)

  • Electronic Health Record (EHR) Information

    • Use the following tools and resources to learn more about EHRs.

       

      EHR Readiness Assessment 

      TMA Tool Helps You Find Right EMR    membersonlyred(2) 

      Certified HIT Product List (CHPL) - (ONC)

      Questions for Vendors 

      Questions for Vendor References 

      How to do an RFP for an EHR 

      EHR Buyer Beware
      Issues to consider when contracting with EHR vendors

      EHR vendors most used in Texas - March 2012 

      Contracting Guidelines - DOQ-IT 

  • CME Opportunities

    • The following are a couple of CME programs related to EHRs and the incentive programs.

       

      EMR Implementation Guide, 2nd Edition

      Medscape's EHR Learning Center website - Earn CME credits by learning more about the Electronic Health Records (EHR) Incentive Programs.

  • News About the Incentive Programs

    • What do I need to know about the EHR Incentive Program?

       

       Meaningful Use Public Health Measures (Action, May 1, 2012)

       Medicaid Opens Meaningful Use Portal (Action, Apr. 17, 2012)

      REC Webinars at Your Service 

      Stage 2 Meaningful Use Rules Released  (Action, Mar. 1, 2012)

      Texans Tops in Meaningful Use (Action, Feb. 1, 2012)

      EHR Incentive Program Timeline (Action, Apr. 15, 2011)

      Meaningful Dollars: Incentive Payments Help Physician Practices- Texas Medicine 

      Risk Analysis Tool for Meaningful Use (Action, Aug. 15, 2011)

      Border Health Caucus Response to The New Yorker Article: "The Cost Condundrum"  (July 6, 2009)

      Is it Time for Your Practice to Adopt an EMR? 

      Electronic Medicine: Stimulus Bill Encourages HIT Use -Texas Medicine 

      Physician Incentives Under the Federal Stimulus Package 

      Stimulus HIT Money: Promises and Questions  (Action, Mar. 16, 2009)

  • Advocacy

    • What has TMA done to advocate for physicians when it comes to the incentive programs?

       

      TMA Comments on Meaningful Use Proposed Rule  - March 15, 2010 

      TMA Backs Safety in Meaningful Use (Action, Apr. 1, 2010)  

      TMA, AMA Question HIT Incentives Timeline  (Action, July 15, 2009) 

      TMA Wants 'Meaningful Use' Meaningful  (Action, July 15, 2009) 

      What Stimulus Means to Texas Health Care  (Action, Mar. 2, 1009)  

      What's NOT in the Stimulus Bill  (Action, Feb. 16, 2009)

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