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An official publication of the ACR and the ARP serving rheumatologists and rheumatology professionals

EMRs

Stage 2 of the EHR Incentive Program

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Although reporting for Stage 1 of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Program began just this year, the rules, objectives, and measures for Stage 2 are already being established. Last June, the Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) for Health Information Technology (IT) presented CMS with its recommendations for Stage 2 of the CMS EHR Incentive Program which builds on the Stage 1 objectives supporting EHR utilization for data capture and sharing.

Meaningful Use and Patient Engagement – Supporting eHealth Literacy

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It is no surprise that understanding health information and navigating the U.S. health system can overwhelm even the savviest patients with advanced literacy skills. Data from the National Adult Literacy Survey suggest that nearly 50% of all adults have problems understanding many aspects of healthcare, including prescriptions, appointment slips, and health education materials.

It’s Not Just EHRs Anymore

Neil Canavan  |  

Patient-centered information technology is an increasingly popular way to help manage complex diseases

Is the Electronic Health Information in Your Practice Really Safe?

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The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Program (Meaningful Use) provides for eligible physicians who demonstrate “meaningful use” of certified EHR technology to be eligible to receive up to $44,000 in Medicare incentive payments over five years or up to $63,750 in Medicaid incentive payments over six years. But what does it really mean to achieve “meaningful use” for the EHR Incentive Program, and what will your practice need to do to meet the required objectives?

Measuring Up for Meaningful Use

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The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS’) Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Program—Meaningful Use—requires that eligible providers participating in the incentive program successfully demonstrate meaningful use of the EHR system by reporting on a set of core and menu functional objectives to qualify for incentive payments of up to $44,000.

Behind the Digital Door

Catherine Kolonko  |  

Rheumatology practices work toward becoming “meaningful users” of EHRs

2011 CMS e-Prescribing Program: Will You Get Hit with Penalties?

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The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 provides for e-prescribing financial incentives in 2011 and financial penalties in 2012 and 2013. When you successfully e-prescribe and report on 25 patient encounters, you will be eligible to receive a 1% incentive of the total estimated allowed charges for professional services covered by Medicare Part B rendered in 2011. The big news, however, is the payment reductions for those who do not successfully meet e-prescribing reporting requirements that will be applied—1% in 2012 and 1.5% in 2013.

Are You a Meaningful User?

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As a follow-up to last month’s article (August 2010) about the final rule for the electronic health record (EHR) stimulus program—which offers up to $64,000 to eligible providers who are meaningful users of an EHR system—this month we will explore the minimum requirements for successful meaningful use, which take effect in 2011 and will build gradually each year of the program.