Starting in 2011, healthcare providers can collect an additional $18 for every service performed for Medicare patients in incentive payments. I was also able to find two grants, one from Health & Human Services for IT, and one offered by the NIH for job creation & economic development.
Similar Medicaid payments are in the works. Medicaid/Medicare incentives will continue through 2016 according to an ever decreasing grid, and there’s a catch.
Eligible Professionals and hospitals must be using a certified Electronic Health Record (EHR). Certification is relatively new to behavioral health and substance abuse treatment, and the Medicare/Medicaid incentives are designed to enable providers to pay for a certified record. Most providers haven’t approached their vendors yet about certification, and it’s almost 2011. Once again, incentive amounts begin to drop in 2012.
Factors conspire against the EHR vendors in this matter: 1. It could cost them up to $2 Million (that will change the competitive landscape) 2. Behavioral Health isn’t specifically included in the incentives and special rules apply to qualify as an eligible professional 3. Behavioral Health standards haven’t been completed by CCHIT to certify EHRs
I’ve shared on all these hindrances in the past, and all are being resolved in one way or another by the sectors of healthcare that are affected. If there’s a problem, it will be in missing deadlines. Your involvement with NCCBH’s political efforts, your software vendors’ SATVA organization work, and pushing along the CCHIT team with the Behavioral Health standards could only help our sector get a bigger piece of the pie.
The HHS IT grant I mentioned is being awarded to RHIOs, CHITTAs and nonprofits in the interest of securely sharing patient information to improve communication among treatment providers and outcomes of their work with the patient.
You can investigate the NIH grant on the web, too.
These grants affect the extension of EHR and the ability for it to deliver maximum value to the community.
An Electronic Health Record has come to be defined as an extended version of the Electronic Medical Record (EMR). While the EMR is the patient record for the agency, the EHR is that patient’s record for the healthcare community, making it possible to share medication lists, treatment plans, and outcomes of treatment when a patient is served by multiple healthcare providers. Imagine how much better it will be to really know what’s going on with a patient’s past and current treatment.
Changes in healthcare enable creative solutions that can do more than just help you “get along”. Look at the large, successful agencies in your area. How did they achieve such success? Likely somebody recognized an opportunity others didn’t in a time of great change, and they took a risk or two, making some creative business moves. It’s a good time to be in business.
If you’d like more information now, Email me at info@ehrsio.com.
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