The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH) component of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) is very significant since it seeks to improve safety, quality, and efficacy of healthcare and engage patients as consumers to give them better control of their health through an active role.
HITECH allocated $27 billion over 10 years as incentive payments through Medicare and Medicaid when eligible professionals, physicians, and hospitals demonstrate the meaningful use of a government-certified EHR. Physicians can receive up to $44,000 through Medicare and $64,000 through Medicaid. Hospitals can receive up to $2 million. Getting on board later decreases the payment every year up to 2014. If a provider has not adopted a certified EHR with meaningful use, there will be penalties in the form of reduced Medicare payments starting in 2015.
The meaningful use is a set of government criteria made up of a set of objectives which need implementation. These objectives are aimed at supporting improved quality, efficiency and safety of health care. The EHRs must have clinical decision support tools with computerized provider order entry (CPOE). The EHR must also be capable of reporting data on the quality of care. The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) detailed the process of certification process of EHRs, and implemented new privacy and security measures to protect the health information. DHHS also set up Regional Extension Centers to assist providers comply with the requirements.
The significance of EHR with meaningful use is that for the first time, the payment model is moving from service-based to outcome or quality-based. The incentives are for data-driven, innovative and coordinated management of care which adds value to the healthcare system.
HITECH allocated $27 billion over 10 years as incentive payments through Medicare and Medicaid when eligible professionals, physicians, and hospitals demonstrate the meaningful use of a government-certified EHR. Physicians can receive up to $44,000 through Medicare and $64,000 through Medicaid. Hospitals can receive up to $2 million. Getting on board later decreases the payment every year up to 2014. If a provider has not adopted a certified EHR with meaningful use, there will be penalties in the form of reduced Medicare payments starting in 2015.
The meaningful use is a set of government criteria made up of a set of objectives which need implementation. These objectives are aimed at supporting improved quality, efficiency and safety of health care. The EHRs must have clinical decision support tools with computerized provider order entry (CPOE). The EHR must also be capable of reporting data on the quality of care. The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) detailed the process of certification process of EHRs, and implemented new privacy and security measures to protect the health information. DHHS also set up Regional Extension Centers to assist providers comply with the requirements.
The significance of EHR with meaningful use is that for the first time, the payment model is moving from service-based to outcome or quality-based. The incentives are for data-driven, innovative and coordinated management of care which adds value to the healthcare system.