CMS Readies First EHR Incentive Payments in Medicare Program

    This week, CMS will begin issuing the first Medicare incentive payments for meeting Stage 1 requirements for the meaningful use of electronic health records, Modern Healthcare reports (LaFave Grace, Modern Healthcare, 5/18).

Under the 2009 economic stimulus package, health care providers who demonstrate meaningful use of certified EHR systems can qualify for Medicaid and Medicare incentive payments.

On April 18, CMS launched the attestation period for the meaningful use program (iHealthBeat, 3/28). About 150 health care providers have successfully attested, according to CMS. However, the number of payments that will be issued has not been determined.

Payment Details

The maximum first-year incentive payment for eligible professionals is $18,000, but they will not receive payment until they reach a $24,000 threshold in certain Medicare charges (Goedert, Health Data Management, 5/18).

Payments to hospitals and critical-access facilities will be determined by a number of factors, but the base payment is $2 million (Modern Healthcare, 5/18).

Health care providers will receive payments either through a paper check or through an electronic funds transfer.

According to CMS, more than $83 million in Medicaid meaningful use incentive payments have been issued since January (Health Data Management, 5/18).
Source: iHealthBeat