Electronic Health Records Chicago: State Funds available to help off-set the cost of Chicago EHR
Converting your practice into an EMR-based one has the potential to change the entire working of your practice. It is a decision that requires you to carefully review a number of factors that will help you pick an EMR that best suits your goals and vision for the software.
Your EMR Must Understand Your Practice
In order to pick an EMR that best understands your practice, it is important that you understand it first. Before embarking on the selection process, you must make a note of the specific requirements of your specialization that must be supported by your EMR. Workflow and processes, customized templates, Meaningful Use objectives differ from one specialization to another. Your EMR must adapt to these parameters in order to maximize its usability and usefulness. You must also be aware of your reasons behind switching to an EMR. Whether it is improving the quality of care, your practice's productivity, making more money, meeting Meaningful Use or simplification of workflow; to know what is driving you towards conversion will help you pick an EMR that suits your needs, goals and requirements.
EHR funding as part of the information technology incentive program can be availed through Medicare or Medicaid. The primary difference between Medicare and Medicaid is that the Medicare Incentive Program is federally run by CMS and the Medicaid Incentive Program for EHR funding is provided by State governments. Choosing between Medicare and Medicaid EHR incentive programs requires you to consider some important points before taking a decision.
Eligibility Criteria for Medicaid EHR Incentive Program or State Funds
To avail of State Funds under Medicaid for your EHR, practitioners must have a practice that is 30% Medicaid. This number is lower for pediatricians at 20% and 10% for Acute Care Hospitals. Some providers like nurse practitioners, certified nurse-midwives, dentists, and physician assistants who practice in a Federally Qualified Health Center or rural health clinic that is led by a physician assistant, are eligible ONLY under Medicaid, i.e., they can only use State Funds to fund their EHR.
Differences between Medicaid EHR Incentives and Medicare EHR Incentives
There are no patient volume thresholds in the Medicare EHR Incentive Program. In terms of eligibility, if you can be paid under the Medicare physician fee schedule, then you can participate. Besides this, even though the requirements are similar, there are a number of important differences to look out for when making the selection. You can switch between the two programs only once. It is therefore essential to carefully evaluate the two plans to be able to settle upon the one that best suits your practice.
Given below is a comparison chart of the primary components of the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs.
Source: <[http://www.hcms.org/>]
State Funds for EHRs in Your State
So far, the following states have launched their EHR Incentive Programs:
1. Arizona
2. Connecticut
3. Rhode Island
4. West Virginia
5. Alabama
6. Alaska
7. Indiana
8. Iowa
9. Kentucky
10. Louisiana
11. Michigan
12. Mississippi
13. Missouri
14. North Carolina
15. Ohio
16. Oklahoma
17. Pennsylvania
18. South Carolina
19. Tennessee
20. Texas
21. Washington
Other states will launch their Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs during the summer and fall of 2011.
Your EMR Must Understand Your Practice
In order to pick an EMR that best understands your practice, it is important that you understand it first. Before embarking on the selection process, you must make a note of the specific requirements of your specialization that must be supported by your EMR. Workflow and processes, customized templates, Meaningful Use objectives differ from one specialization to another. Your EMR must adapt to these parameters in order to maximize its usability and usefulness. You must also be aware of your reasons behind switching to an EMR. Whether it is improving the quality of care, your practice's productivity, making more money, meeting Meaningful Use or simplification of workflow; to know what is driving you towards conversion will help you pick an EMR that suits your needs, goals and requirements.
EHR funding as part of the information technology incentive program can be availed through Medicare or Medicaid. The primary difference between Medicare and Medicaid is that the Medicare Incentive Program is federally run by CMS and the Medicaid Incentive Program for EHR funding is provided by State governments. Choosing between Medicare and Medicaid EHR incentive programs requires you to consider some important points before taking a decision.
Eligibility Criteria for Medicaid EHR Incentive Program or State Funds
To avail of State Funds under Medicaid for your EHR, practitioners must have a practice that is 30% Medicaid. This number is lower for pediatricians at 20% and 10% for Acute Care Hospitals. Some providers like nurse practitioners, certified nurse-midwives, dentists, and physician assistants who practice in a Federally Qualified Health Center or rural health clinic that is led by a physician assistant, are eligible ONLY under Medicaid, i.e., they can only use State Funds to fund their EHR.
Differences between Medicaid EHR Incentives and Medicare EHR Incentives
There are no patient volume thresholds in the Medicare EHR Incentive Program. In terms of eligibility, if you can be paid under the Medicare physician fee schedule, then you can participate. Besides this, even though the requirements are similar, there are a number of important differences to look out for when making the selection. You can switch between the two programs only once. It is therefore essential to carefully evaluate the two plans to be able to settle upon the one that best suits your practice.
Given below is a comparison chart of the primary components of the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs.
Source: <[http://www.hcms.org/>]
State Funds for EHRs in Your State
So far, the following states have launched their EHR Incentive Programs:
1. Arizona
2. Connecticut
3. Rhode Island
4. West Virginia
5. Alabama
6. Alaska
7. Indiana
8. Iowa
9. Kentucky
10. Louisiana
11. Michigan
12. Mississippi
13. Missouri
14. North Carolina
15. Ohio
16. Oklahoma
17. Pennsylvania
18. South Carolina
19. Tennessee
20. Texas
21. Washington
Other states will launch their Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs during the summer and fall of 2011.
