Calif. Aims To Have 10K Health Providers Nab EHR Incentive Payments
California has set a goal of having 10,000 eligible health care providers by June receive Medicaid incentive payments for adopting, implementing or upgrading to certified electronic health record technology, according to a CMS blog post published recently by National Coordinator for Health IT Farzad Mostashari and CMS Acting Administrator Marilyn Tavenner, Modern Healthcare reports.
Under the 2009 federal economic stimulus package, health care providers who demonstrate meaningful use of certified electronic health record systems can qualify for Medicaid and Medicare incentive payments.
Nationwide Goals
In the blog post, Mostashari and Tavenner wrote that they have set a goal of helping 100,000 health care providers qualify for Medicare or Medicaid incentive payments this year.
As of February, more than 59,000 eligible health care professionals and more than 2,000 hospitals had received Medicare or Medicaid incentive payments, they noted.
States' Progress
Mostashari and Tavenner wrote that many states, including California, "are partnering with local stakeholder organizations to make sure providers get the help and encouragement to achieve 'meaningful use' and assistance with overcoming any barriers that are blocking their progress" (Conn, Modern Healthcare, 3/26). This is part of the California Healthline Daily Edition, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.