Frequently Asked Questions: EHR Incentive Programs
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 2011
What is the difference between the Electronic Health Records (EHR) Demonstration and the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs?
The EHR Demonstration is a five-year demonstration project designed to encourage small to medium-sized primary care physician practices to adopt and use EHRs to improve the quality of patient care. Practices participating in the EHR Demonstration that meet specified requirements are eligible to receive two types of incentive payments: one for the adoption and use of an EHR and one for the reporting of and performance on 26 clinical quality measures related to the care of diabetes mellitus (DM), congestive heart failure (CHF), coronary artery disease (CAD) and preventive care services. The demonstration was implemented on June 1, 2009 in the following 4 sites: Louisiana, Southwest Pennsylvania, South Dakota (and some counties in bordering states), and Maryland and the District of Columbia. After careful consideration, plans to add 8 additional sites to the demonstration one year later were discontinued due to the creation of the Medicare and Medicaid EHR incentive programs. The EHR Demonstration will continue through May 31, 2014. CMS has no plans to add sites or additional primary care physician practices to the EHR Demonstration.
The Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs were established under the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act, or the "HITECH Act," which is part of the Recovery Act. The EHR Incentive Programs under Medicare and Medicaid will provide incentive payments for the "meaningful use" of certified EHR technology. The Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs will provide incentive payments to eligible professionals (EPs), critical access hospitals, and eligible hospitals as they adopt, implement, upgrade or demonstrate meaningful use of certified EHR technology. The programs will begin in 2011.
If I am participating in the Medicare Electronic Health Records (EHR) Demonstration Program, can I also participate in the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs?
Yes, if the eligible professional (EP) is eligible they may simultaneously participate in the Medicare EHR Demonstration and the Medicare or Medicaid EHR Incentive Program.
