It is important to note that the HHS secretary may exempt hospitals and providers from penalties on a case-by-case basis for hardship situations. Providers may not receive multiple incentives. Those who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid incentives must choose to pursue benefits through only one program.
What Should My Practice Do?
Should we purchase and install an EHR system now or wait until the final rule is published? Should we look into system upgrades or a new system? These are common questions rheumatology practices are asking.
The ACR’s Senior Specialist of Registries and Healthcare Informatics, Itara Barnes, suggests that rheumatology practices not wait due to uncertainty surrounding the final rule. “Begin the EHR evaluation and selection process now,” she advises. “Final and complete clarity on meaningful use and certification relating to incentive payments is not expected until the spring of 2010, leaving minimal time to select and implement an EHR system to achieve meaningful use by 2011. In addition, the EHR industry is likely to experience a drastic increase in demand the closer we get to 2011 and may be strapped for resources.”
Barnes suggests that practices start now by developing a plan for selection and implementation. Begin looking at fully functional EHR systems and hosted solutions that are currently Certification Commission for Health Information Technology certified. Remember that the new certification will only address the bare minimum needed to support “meaningful use,” while your practice will demand much more from the system. It is also important to ensure that the EHR system supports defined interoperability goals for 2011 including lab results delivery, e-prescribing, claims and eligibility checking, and quality reporting.
Correction
In the article, “A Preceptorship Comes Full Circle,”(December 2009, p. 12), it was mistakenly reported that Elizabeth Perkins, MD, had qualified for the University of California, San Francisco fellowship program, when in fact it was Franziska Matzkies, MD. Although Dr. Perkins was one of the first preceptees of the Ephraim P. Engleman Resident Research Preceptorship, she is now in private practice in Birmingham, Ala.
What Is the ACR Doing?
In February, the ACR’s Health Information Technology Committee began reviewing the rule to identify both financial opportunities and potential penalties for rheumatology practices and hospitals and is in the process of submitting comment on the interim final rule in conjunction with the Government Affairs Committee. There are several items in the rule that need further clarification, and the committee will continue to work through all available avenues to promote a final rule that is practical and that can actually be achieved.