More than 110,000 physicians and other health care providers have received federal incentive payments based on their use of electronic health record technology, according to new data from the Health and Human Services department.
The payments were made by the Medicare and Medicaid programs between May 2011 and May 2012 for the meaningful use of certified electronic health record (EHR) technology. Under the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs, physicians, other health care providers, and hospitals can earn bonus payments from the federal government by demonstrating that they used EHRs to meet certain quality measures.
Physicians can earn up to $44,000 over 5 years through the Medicare incentive program. However, those who don’t meet program requirements by 2015 face a 1% cut to the total Medicare payments. Under the Medicaid program, physicians can earn up to $63,750 over 6 years, with no associated penalty.
Participation by physicians and other health care providers has exceeded goals set by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. In April, Acting CMS Administrator Marilyn Tavenner and National Coordinator for Health Information Technology Dr. Farzad Mostashari said they wanted to see 100,000 providers receive incentives under the EHR program by the end of 2012.
"Meeting this goal so early in the year is a testament to the commitment of everyone who has worked hard to meet the challenges of integrating EHRs and health information technology into clinical practice," Ms. Tavenner said in a statement. "Not only have state Medicaid programs, public health departments, and many other stakeholders given their support to the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs, but numerous health professionals and hospitals have recognized the potential of EHRs to provide better patient care, cut down on paperwork, and eliminate duplicate screening and tests."
The incentive programs have helped to jump-start the use of EHRs by providers across the country, Dr. Mostashari said. Regional extension centers sponsored by his office are a big part of the increase in use, he said. Through the end of May, more than 133,000 primary care providers and 10,000 specialists were working with these centers to overcome barriers to adoption.
Overall, the federal government has spent more than $5.7 billion on EHR incentive payments between January 2011 and the end of May, 2012 – more than $3 billion was paid by Medicare and more than $2.6 billion by Medicaid.