The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) this week began online registration for its electronic health record (EHR) incentive program.
The program is designed to foster the meaningful use of certified EHR technology and requires participants to have certified EHR systems.
Healthcare providers eligible for the program include physicians who participate in Medicare and provide less than 90% of services in inpatient and/or emergency department hospital settings.
The compliance period for an eligible professional's first payment year is any consecutive 90 days within the year, and physicians who wait until 2012 will receive the same total incentives over time as those who began in 2011. Although it is technically a voluntary program, noncompliance in 2015 and beyond will result in payment reductions for those who are eligible.
Related Reading
ONC releases final IT certification rule, January 4, 2011
CCHIT requests comment on certification, November 23, 2010
CCHIT launches EHR certification program, November 11, 2010
CCHIT certifies 33 EHR products, October 4, 2010
ONC clarifies 'meaningful use' certification rules, September 30, 2010
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