Medicaid EHR Incentive Program
Background
Section 4201 of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) provides funding support to Medicaid professionals and hospitals for the adoption and meaningful use of certified electronic health records (EHRs). The Medicaid EHR incentive program will provide incentive payments to Eligible Professionals (EPs) and eligible hospitals for efforts to adopt, implement, upgrade, or meaningfully use certified EHR technology.
On July 13, 2010, the Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), published the Electronic Health Record Incentive Program final rule, designed to implement the provisions of ARRA and provide incentive payments to eligible professionals (EPs) and eligible hospitals participating in Medicare and Medicaid programs to adopt and meaningfully use certified EHR technology.
To view the Electronic Health Record Incentive Program final rule please see:
On July 13, 2010, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) issued the final rule on the Initial Set of Standards, Implementation Specifications, and Certification Criteria for Electronic Health Record Technology.
To view the Initial Set of Standards, Implementation Specifications, and Certification Criteria for Electronic Health Record Technology final rule, please see:
Eligible Professionals
The final rule defines eligible professionals, for purposes of the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program, as: physicians, dentists, certified nurse-midwives, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants practicing in an FQHC or RHC that is so led by a physician assistant. Medicaid EPs must also meet the other criteria for Medicaid incentive payment eligibility, such as the patient volume thresholds or practicing predominantly in a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) or Rural Health Clinic (RHC). Additionally, to qualify for incentives, most Medicaid EPs cannot be "hospital-based."
Eligible professionals can receive up to $63,750 over six years for adopting and meaningfully using EHR technology.
Eligible Hospitals
The final rule identifies acute care and children's hospitals as the only two types of institutional providers potentially eligible for Medicaid incentive payments. Acute care hospitals must also meet a 10% Medicaid patient volume threshold requirement. Children's hospitals do not have patient volume requirements for Medicaid incentive program participation.
Incentive payments to eligible hospitals are based on a complex formula in which a base incentive amount for all hospitals is modified by the number of Medicaid patient discharges as well as other factors.
The Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Program Website is now available on CMS.gov!
The Centers for Medicare & Medicare Services (CMS) has launched the official website for the Medicare & Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs. This website provides the most up-to-date, detailed information about the EHR incentive programs.
The Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs will provide incentive payments to eligible professionals and hospitals as they adopt, implement, upgrade, or demonstrate meaningful use of certified EHR technology.
Bookmark this site and visit http://www.cms.gov/EHRIncentivePrograms/ often to learn about who is eligible for the programs, how to register, meaningful use, upcoming EHR training and events, and much more!
NM Program Contact Information
To obtain additional information related to the rule and New Mexico Medical Assistance Division implementation of the program, please contact:
EHR Incentive Program Manager
Phone: 505-827-6202