Medicare EMR incentive program begins registration

Washington -- Starting Jan. 3, eligible physicians and hospitals will be able to register for the Medicare electronic medical record incentive program, a prerequisite for obtaining billions in available federal bonuses, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced Dec. 22, 2010.

Also starting Jan. 3, registration for the Medicaid EMR incentive program will launch for Alaska, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Michigan, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas. In February, registration will open in California, Missouri and North Dakota. The remaining states probably will launch their Medicaid EMR incentive program sign-ups in the spring and summer, CMS said.

Officials with CMS and the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology said they hope for broad registration by doctors and hospitals. To prepare for the process, health professionals are encouraged to visit the CMS website (link).

"With the start of registration, these landmark programs get under way, and patients, providers and the nation can begin to enjoy the benefits of widespread adoption of electronic health records," said CMS Administrator Donald M. Berwick, MD.

David Blumenthal, MD, the national health IT coordinator, said, "It's time to get connected."

He added that his office and CMS have numerous resources to help physicians and hospitals enroll in the program. They include a website that lists more than 130 certified EMR systems (link).

Another site lists the 62 regional extension centers that can assist physicians in obtaining the bonuses (link).

Physicians who want to participate must register in either the Medicare or Medicaid EMR incentive programs. Participants must choose only one program -- they cannot receive payments from both. However, after receiving a bonus for a given year, they may change their program selection once before 2015.

In 2010, CMS finalized standards that doctors and hospitals must meet to demonstrate meaningful use of their EMR systems. Physicians can receive as much as $44,000 over a five-year period through Medicare, and up to $63,750 over six years through Medicaid.

CMS on Dec. 22, 2010, announced several additional key 2011 dates for the EMR physician incentive program:

• January -- Some state agencies begin issuing Medicaid EMR incentive payments.
• April -- Participants begin to attest eligibility for Medicare bonuses.
• May -- CMS begins issuing Medicare bonuses.
• Oct. 3 -- Physicians have a final chance to begin their 90-day reporting period to demonstrate meaningful use in 2011.
• Dec. 31 -- 2011 bonus payment year ends for eligible professionals.