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)    

Learning Modules for the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program  - HHSC
Topics within the modules cover all components of the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program. Lessons include: program overview, registration with CMS, enrollment with Texas Medicaid, attestation via the Texas portal, and an overview of meaningful use.

EHR Incentive Program Timeline 

My EHR Participation Timeline - CMS
This interactive tool allows EPs to determine what year you will meet Stage 1, Stage 2, and Stage 3 of meaningful use in the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs.

 Instruction guides for the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs

Instruction guides: 
Medicare  EHR Incentive Program
Medicaid  EHR Incentive Program     

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

Meaningful Use Stage 1 Criteria  

Meaningful Use Core Measures Info – CMS    

Clinical Decision Support (CDS) Portal (AHRQ) - supports search and retrieval of CDS interventions. Find appropriate CDS interventions for your specialty. Click the user agreement to open the search page, and then select the advanced filters link to see all the filters.     

Registration & Attestation page   

Attestation User Guide for Medicare Eligible Professionals (CMS) – step-by-step guidance on navigating the attestation system for physicians participating in the Medicare EHR Incentive Program   

Attestation Worksheet for Eligible Professionals (CMS) - allows users to enter their meaningful use measure values, creating a quick reference tool to use while attesting   

Meaningful Use Calculator (CMS)  - allows physicians to determine if they have met the Stage 1 meaningful use guidelines before they attest in the system   

Attest Meaningful Use Annually (Action, Aug. 1, 2012)  

Meaningful Use HIPAA Security Analysis (Action, Oct. 15, 2012)  

Privacy and Security Update: Risk Analysis for Health Care Professionals (TMLT article, Mar.15, 2013) 

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

Stage 2:  

Meaningful Use Stage 2 Overview Tipsheet - CMS  

Overview of Proposed Stage 2 Meaningful Use - CMS  

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)

EHR Readiness Assessment 

TMA Tool Helps You Find Right EMR     

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 

EMR Implementation Guide, 2nd Edition 

Security Risk Assessments: Not Just a Meaningful Use Core Measure - Don't miss out on this April webinar presented by the Texas RECs 

2013 Educational Webinar Series Calendar - Register now!
Attend webinars during your lunch hour to discuss such topics as meaningful use attestation, workflows, changes from Stage 1 to Stage 2, security risk assessments, audits, patient portals and much more.

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

Senators Want HITECH Act Reviewed (Action, May 1, 2013)

 Policy Changes to the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program (April 2013) - HHSC Texas Medicaid

Meaningful Use Audits Start (Action, April 1, 2013)

 EHR Incentives Payments Are Taxable Income (Action, Mar. 18, 2013)

Medicaid EHR Incentive Program - Meaningful Use Stage 1 Changes Effective in 2013  - HHSC Texas Medicaid

G8447 Is Retired (Action, Feb. 1, 2013)

HIT Deadlines Ahead (Action, Dec. 17, 2012)

Raised Expectations: EHR Rules Demand Controlling Your Patients (Texas Medicine, Dec. 2012)    

Meaningful Use HIPAA Security Analysis (Action, Oct. 15, 2012) 

CMS Releases New EHR Rules (Action, Sept. 17, 2012)  

Don't Leave $5,000 on the Table! (Action, Sept. 5, 2012)  

Meaningful Use Audits Begin (E-Tips, Aug. 14, 2012) 

Attest Meaningful Use Annually (Action, Aug. 1, 2012) 

Texas Tops in EHR Incentive Payments (Action, July 17, 2012) 

HHSC Tools Aid EHR Participation (Action, May 15, 2012)  

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)  

A Meaningful Connection: Patient Portal Helps Meet Meaningful Use Rules (Texas Medicine, December 2011)    

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

Meaningful Dollars: Incentive Payments Help Physician Practices (Texas Medicine, August 2011)    

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, May 2009)   

 Physician Incentives Under the Federal Stimulus Package 

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

Stephen J. Stack, MD's Testimony on EHRs and Meaningful Use - AMA (May 3, 2013)

Senators Want HITECH Act Reviewed (Action, May 1, 2013)

TMA Letter to ONC RE: RFI -- Advancing Interoperability and Health Information Exchange (Apr. 22, 2013)

TMA Letter to ONC Re: RFI on Clinical Quality Measures and EHR Reporting (April 8, 2013)

TMA Wants HIT Safety Czar (Action, Feb. 15, 2013)

TMA Comments to ONC Regarding HIT Patient Safety Action and Surveillance Plan - February 4, 2013

TMA Comments to ONC Regarding the Stage 3 Definition of Meaningful Use of EHRs - January 14, 2013

TMA Comments to CMS on Stage 2 Meaningful Use - May 7, 2012

TMA Comments to the ONC on the 2014 EHR Standards and Certification Criteria and Proposed Rule- May 7, 2012

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)