EHS will help you understand the many opportunities created for your medical practice by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).
On Tuesday, February 17, 2009, President Obama signed ARRA into law, committing $19.2 billion to healthcare information technology (HIT) and embracing pioneering legislation to promote the use of HIT for all providers of healthcare (See the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act [HITECH]). Specific to HIT adoption:
- $2 billion will be made available in the form of grants and loans to fast track HIT adoption.
- $17.2 billion will be distributed in incentive payments to eligible healthcare professionals for HIT adoption.
What makes me an eligible professional? EHS will help you meet the 3 criteria that make you an eligible professional, as defined by demonstrating:
- Use of HIT: “Meaningful use” of a certified EHR technology including ePrescribing,
- Interoperability of Data: That the certified EHR technology is connected for electronic exchange of health information, and
- Quality Measure Reporting: That they report clinical quality measures in accordance with the Secretary of HHS.
Additional Healthcare Related ARRA Investments as stated by the White House, Washington, D.C.
(February 17, 2009) – “Providing Health Care to Those in Need While Making a Down Payment on Health Reforms that Will Save Billions of Dollars and Countless Lives”
- $87 billion in Federal Medical Assistance for Medicaid and S-CHIP
- 65% tax credit for Americans choosing COBRA continuation of coverage upon losing their jobs
- $500 million to support programs placing providers in underserved communities
- $10 billion to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for research
- $1.1 billion in comparative effectiveness research
- $2 billion in CHCs for renovations, repairs, HIT, and critically needed health care services
- $500 million to Indian Health Services for modernizing clinics and hospitals, HIT, and contract health services
- $50 million to HHS for IT security
Additional HIT incentives available from CMS:
- 2% of the allowable Medicare Part B charges in bonus for ePrescribing
- 2% of the allowable Medicare Part B charges in bonus for PQRI Reporting
- CMS EHR Demonstration for 12 identified communities
- FQHC and Rural Medicare Medical Home Demonstration
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