Small practices to get financial boost with new health IT incentive program
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, collaborating with federal and state health agencies, has launched a new incentive program, specifically geared toward small- to mid-size physician practices, to drive the adoption of EHRs.
CMS said it will offer incentives totaling up to $58,000 per physician over five years or $290,000 per practice over five years. Practices are eligible if they focus on primary care, have 20 or fewer physicians, serve as the main source of primary care for a least 50 fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries, and agree to install an EHR by the end of the incentive program’s second year, reported Government HealthIT.
The program calls for the deployment of EHR systems certified by the Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology (CCHIT).
Maryland/District of Columbia, Pittsburgh, Louisiana, and South Dakota will embark on the program this year, with eight additional regions to follow, according to Government HealthIT.
Physicians have until Nov. 26 to submit an application for the incentive.
CMS said it will offer incentives totaling up to $58,000 per physician over five years or $290,000 per practice over five years. Practices are eligible if they focus on primary care, have 20 or fewer physicians, serve as the main source of primary care for a least 50 fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries, and agree to install an EHR by the end of the incentive program’s second year, reported Government HealthIT.
The program calls for the deployment of EHR systems certified by the Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology (CCHIT).
Maryland/District of Columbia, Pittsburgh, Louisiana, and South Dakota will embark on the program this year, with eight additional regions to follow, according to Government HealthIT.
Physicians have until Nov. 26 to submit an application for the incentive.