| The federal government is offering a program of | | | | the EMR is adopted. Providers reaching ARRA |
| financial incentives to encourage adoption of EMR | | | | certified status in 2011 or 2012 will receive |
| systems. Providers are strongly advised to get on | | | | $44,000 paid out in five annual payments ranging |
| the road to achieving "meaningful use" of ARRA | | | | from $18,000 the first year to $2,000 the fifth |
| certified software to qualify for these incentives. | | | | year. Providers who become ARRA certified in |
| What Is ARRA Certified? | | | | 2013 will receive reduced incentives of $39,000 |
| The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act | | | | and those who reach certification in 2014 will get |
| (ARRA) includes sweeping changes that affect, | | | | $24,000. The incentives will expire after that and |
| among other things, the adoption of electronic | | | | providers who have not achieved certification by |
| medical records. This act includes financial | | | | 2014 will not be able to share in the rewards. |
| incentives to reward medical providers who | | | | Don't Get Left Behind |
| achieve meaningful use of EMR systems in an | | | | CCHIT chairman Mark Leavitt has cautioned |
| effort to improve the efficiency of medical care | | | | providers not to wait. Meaningful use of an EMR |
| in this country. | | | | cannot be achieved overnight and he estimates a |
| The exact definition of meaningful use has not | | | | best-case situation would take 18 months from |
| been stated yet, but the Certification Commission | | | | installation to meaningful use. A more realistic |
| for Healthcare Information Technology (CCHIT) is | | | | estimate would be two years or more. |
| not waiting. They are the only organization | | | | Medical providers must get started today if they |
| authorized to certify EMRs for ARRA funding and | | | | want to reach early incentives by becoming |
| they are offering preliminary ARRA certified labels | | | | certified by 2012. Delaying EMR adoption by |
| in readiness for upcoming government programs. | | | | another year could cost a provider thousands of |
| Using a certified EMR system puts a provider on | | | | dollars in lost incentives. Longer delays may cause |
| the fast track to full ARRA certified status and | | | | a provider to miss the incentive program entirely. |
| the incentives that go with it. | | | | EMR adoption is an expensive process and the |
| What Are ARRA Incentives? | | | | ARRA incentives will be a valuable resource to |
| Starting in 2011, providers using ARRA certified | | | | help medical practices fund the operation. EMR use |
| EMRs who have achieve meaningful use will | | | | has been climbing in recent years and with the |
| receive direct cash payments as a reward for | | | | widespread adoption the ARRA incentives will |
| early EMR adoption. There is a total of $17.2 billion | | | | inspire, practices that do not have EMR systems |
| allotted for these incentives, to be paid to | | | | will be left behind by their partners. |
| healthcare providers who meet the ARRA | | | | Not using an EMR is not an option anymore. |
| requirements. | | | | Providers should start on the path to electronic |
| The amount of the incentives depends on when | | | | medical records as soon as possible. |