Meaningful Use Incentive Payments Reach $2.4B in California

Eligible professionals and hospitals in California have received the most incentive payments of any state under the meaningful use program, Healthcare Finance reports (Powderly, Healthcare Finance, 4/9).

Under the 2009 economic stimulus package, providers who demonstrate meaningful use of certified electronic health records can qualify for Medicaid and Medicare incentive payments (California Healthline, 9/2/14).

In total, CMS has doled out more than $29.1 billion in incentive payments since 2011, including $19.9 billion under the Medicare program and $9.2 billion under the Medicaid program.

Details of California Payments

As of February, eligible professionals and hospitals in California have received more than $2.4 billion in incentive payments. In comparison, providers in Texas -- the state with the second-highest payments -- has received $2.1 billion, while Wyoming providers have received the least among U.S. states, at $55.7 million.

In California, the:

• Medicare program doled out $1.4 billion in incentive payments; and
• Medicaid program doled out more than $1 billion (Healthcare Finance, 4/9).