You may be in the dream world where you know how to decode the red code aka red tape
. But the recent 555 page document on HITECH to get ARRAs EHR adoption incentive money has left tome tongue tied and in troubled waters because of problems in comprehending.
Before you see the green you have to come across many reds. So if you are one of the a physicians office or you help in running a hospital which tends to Medicare and Medicaid patients, you might just need a bit of help to spell out the basic requirements of this proposed regulation to reap in the cash.
CMS issued a proposed rule that would implement the incentive payment provisions of ARRA on the successful implementation of the health record technology. Now payments would be only provided to Medicare and Medicaid providers and facilities which adopt and make a meaningful use of the EHR system. This clause about meaningful use is actually the first and foremost requirement and a tricky one too. It is not simple or easy to put to practice the criteria of meaningful use as it addresses a spectrum of issues which require a lot of resource and labor.
This proposed regulation specifies the initial criteria that EPs and eligible hospitals need to meet. Hospitals have 23 criteria to meet while EPs have a separate list of 25 criteria to meet. It also specifies how t incentive amount is calculated including the payment adjustments if the hospitals fail to meaningfully use certified EHR technology.