There's been a lot of buzz lately about the reimbursements for EHR use announced in the HITECH Act of the recently passed Stimulus Act (ARRA). A maximum benefit of $44,000 over six years is certainly buzz-worthy and has many doctors scouring the software landscape for the right EHR/EMR system. To qualify, doctors must meet several requirements.

First, it must be a “certified” EHR.  While there are some certifications already established, such as for Ambulatory EHR’s, many specialties are not yet certified, including Eye Care EHR’s.    Regardless of what any Eye Care EHR/EMR software companies claim, there is yet no certification for Eye Care EHR's.

Until now EHR certification has been handled by the Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology (CCHIT), however the ARRA bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services to establish the definition of a certified EHR by Dec. 31, 2009.  Meanwhile CCHIT has laid out their timeline for defining additional certifications, and the proposed schedule for Eye Care EHR is: Research in 2009, Development in 2010, and certification launch in 2011.  See: http://www.cchit.org/files/Expansion/CCHITExpansionRoadmapDRAFT20090115.pdf

Whether the final certification comes from the Department of Health and Human Services or CCHIT, My Vision Express is committed to meet or exceed any future certification requirements.  And now, we will even guarantee it!  Keep reading for more details.

The other requirement to qualify for the reimbursements is to demonstrate “meaningful use” of an EHR.  According to the current definition, “meaningful use” requires three components:

• ePrescribing

• Electronic exchange of information between health-care entities

• PQRI support – Physicians Quality Reporting Initiative

The reimbursement schedule is weighed towards the early years.  Those that adopt EMR in 2011 and 2012 get the maximum $44,000 benefit.   Physicians operating in a designated Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) may qualify for an additional 10% reimbursement.

HITECH ACT – EMR Reimbursement Schedule

The reimbursements are based on 75% of your Medicare Part B claims.  To get the maximum $18,000 reimbursement in 2011, for example, you would have to bill at least $24,000 to Medicare.

There are also additional Medicare benefits available in 2009 and 2010.  Those using ePrescribing can qualify for a 2% Medicare rebate up to a yearly maximum of $5,000. Another 2% is available up to a yearly maximum of $5,000 for Physicians that are reporting PQRI.

Insight Software now guarantees that My Vision Express will achieve the required certification for Doctors using the system to qualify for the EHR/EMR reimbursements.  Otherwise we will refund 100% of your purchase price.

RESOURCES:

HITECH website: http://healthit.hhs.gov/portal/server.pt

HITECH Act (PDF): http://waysandmeans.house.gov/media/pdf/111/hitech.pdf

HITECH Implementation Plan: http://www.hhs.gov/recovery/reports/plans/onc_hit.pdf

CCHIT Expansion Schedule: http://www.cchit.org/files/Expansion/CCHITExpansionRoadmapDRAFT20090115.pdf

Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA): http://www.hpsafind.hrsa.gov

Home | My Vision Express | Demo | Community | Company | Support | Purchase