MDNews - San Antonio

++++++++++++++++ + +++ + IT UPDATE U +++ ++++++++++++++++ The Medicare EHR Incentive Program: How to Lose $45,000 in 7 Days By Vance Nelson A THREE-PHYSICIAN GROUP HAD been considering adopting an EHR system for more than a year. Many colleagues had moved forward with EHR and some had even received an $18,000–24,000 initial stimulus payment for each physician with other payments to follow. The group finally decided to purchase a system in 2013. They looked at several models, decided which was right for them and purchased one certified for meaningful use in the summer of 2013. With their software vendor, they planned the implementation to begin in August and end with the practice successfully using the system to chart encounters, prescribe electronically and more beginning Oct. 7, 2013. The implementation went smoother than the practice expected, and the staff was excited about their success. The practice saw Medicare patients for approximately 30% of their encounters, and the physicians knew they should be able to qualify for incentive money as had many of their colleagues. The physicians and staff made sure they were collecting all information required to successfully attest under the Medicare EHR Incentive Program. After the required 90-day reporting period, the practice administrator used the easy-to-read meaningful use dashboard in the software to help guide her through the on-line attestation process, which she successfully completed. Unfortunately, she found that although the attestation was successful, the practice would receive $45,000 less ($15,000 per physician) than if they had started using the system only seven days earlier (before Oct. 1, 2013). Word to the Wise: I understand some physicians are not willing to take the incentive money for various reasons. If that is the case, this article is not for you. However, if you desire to move forward with EHR and would 14 | San Antonio MD NEWS I MDNEWS.COM like to take advantage of the incentive money available, now is the time to act. Physicians in private practice who bill even a modest amount of encounters to Medicare should be able to qualify for incentive money. If you didn't successfully complete the required 90-day reporting period by Dec. 31, 2012, you already lost $5,000 of the $44,000 you could have received. If you do not purchase, implement and begin your 90-day reporting period by Oct. 1 of this year, you will lose an additional $15,000 that you cannot recover. Action Point: If you see Medicare patients and have thought about moving forward with an EHR system, now is the time to purchase an ONC-ATCB certified system. Vendors like HealthTec are busy with existing implementations, so don't assume you can purchase and immediately implement a new system. By the way, if you see approximately 30% Medicaid encounters, you may qualify for Medicaid stimulus payments, which are still fully available. Please feel free to contact me at HealthTec Software (210-545-1010), or visit www.httrilogy.com for information about how to check the official CMS website for which systems are certified for meaningful use. Vance Nelson is President/CEO of HealthTec Software, Inc. He has operated in business and technical management roles of health care software development for more than 20 years. HealthTec Software is located in San Antonio, TX, and serves clients nationwide. Since 1999, HealthTec has created powerful, easy-to-use software for a wide variety of practice sizes and specialties. Their latest offering, HealthTec Trilogy, is a fully certified EHR that blends clinical and financial functionality into an easy-to-use product that adapts to the practice. I

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