GE offers interest-free EMR loans under new program

GE has launched Stimulus Simplicity, a joint program from GE Healthcare and GE Capital that will ensure that EMRs are certified and offer an interest-free loan with deferred payments to doctors and hospitals.

The company said its program helps physician offices and hospitals purchase GE's EMR products, GE Centricity EMR and Centricity Enterprise solutions. GE's financial services business, GE Capital, will provide the financing and GE Healthcare will provide the EMR certification warranty.

The Hazard Clinic in the Appalachian region of Eastern Kentucky, which has qualified for the interest-free opportunity, said it will use the loan to purchase the Centricity EMR solution.

Under the HITECH Act of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009, federal stimulus funds will not become available for EMRs until 2011 and the federal government has yet to set specific guidelines for determining what constitutes a "qualified" system.

To overcome these barriers to immediate adoption of EMRs, GE said it is providing support for its customers to meet "meaningful use" standards by offering its HITECH Warranty for Centricity EMR and Centricity Enterprise solutions and zero-interest funding with deferred payments to qualified buyers.

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