A recent summary provided by the Health Information Management Systems Society (HIMSS) described the HITECH portion of the AARA as follows:.
"Incentives through Medicare for the Meaningful Use of Certified EHR Technology:
Establishment of incentive payments through Medicare for the meaningful use of certified EHR technology by "eligible professionals and hospitals".
EHR Incentive payments to eligible professionals:
An eligible professional (physician) will receive incentive payments as specified in the legislation, for the first five years (2011-2015), for demonstrating a meaningful use of EHR technology and demonstrated performance during the reporting period for each payment year. If an eligible professional does not demonstrate meaningful use by 2015, his/her reimbursement payments under Medicare will begin to be reduced. No incentive payment will be made after 2016...
....EHR Stimulus Payment schedule for an eligible professional is as follows:
1) First payment year for such professional is $18,000
2) For second payment year for such professional is $12,000
3) For the third payment year for such professional is $8,000
4) For the fourth payment year for such professional is $4,000
5) For the fifth payment year for such professional $2,000
6) For any succeeding payment year for such professional is $0
If eligible professionals have not become meaningful users of EHRs by 2015, they will not receive full Medicare payments beginning in 2015. The reduction in the fee schedule is as follows:
2015 - 99%
2016 - 98%
2017 and each subsequent year - 97%.
Provisions also apply to Medicare Advantage Organizations...
For full details, please see:
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
HIMSS Summary of Key Health Information Technology Provisions
©Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS)
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