What every Doctor Needs to Know before buying EHR

FormSmith Summary Guide to Electronic Health Records



Fact #1

EHR is NOT mandatory. You DO NOT have to adopt EHR.

Fact #2

The government has taken a "Carrot & Stick" Approach to EHR

Adopt EHR-you may qualify for up to $44,000 Incentive Payments over 5 years

NON EHR-starting 2015 may receive 1% to 5% reduction in Medicare payments

Fact #3

EHR must be Certified (25 Criteria) To be eligible for Incentive Payments

Fact #4

EHR Module can be added to Existing Billing/Practice Management Programs such as FormSmith and Qualify For Incentive Payments. FormSmith+EHR Module saves you $3,500 to $10,000 over many "EHR Total Systems."

Fact #5

$44,000 Incentive to adopt EHR was designed for Hospitals and Large Group Practices and solo Doctors who see a lot of Medicare and Medicaid patients.

Fact #6

$44,000 incentive is NOT an Automatic Payment when you buy EHR

Fact #7

Must Demonstrate "Meaningful Use" every year. 20 of 25 Criteria MUST be met. Fifteen Core Objectives and Five of Ten Menu Objectives must be met.
This is the catch to getting the Money!

Fact #8

Must enter "required data" in CMS online Registration and Attestation System. Doctors must enter Statistical Data on all patients for Meaningful Use Objectives and Clinical Quality Measures, indicate if they qualify for exclusions from specific objectives, and legally attest that they have demonstrated meaningful use.

Fact #9

Incentive Payments are made 4-8 weeks after Program Requirements and Successful Attestation are made and the professional meets $24,000 threshold in Allowed Charges. Payments are held until Medicare is billed $24,000 allowed charges or 60 days after the end of the calendar year. This may require an average of 67 to 83 Medicare adjustments per month.

Fact #10

If you are thinking that the EHR $44,000 Incentive is a "gimme", Think Again.


If you are still interested in EHR click here for a more detailed EHR Guide