About HITECH incentives

The HITECH Act specifies that physicians can qualify for $44,000 or more in economic stimulus incentives for meaningful use of an EHR

Meaningful use

Meaningful Use consists of 15 core criteria that providers must complete in order to qualify for $44,000 or more in Electronic Health Record (EHR) incentives. There are 10 additional criteria out of which only five need to be demonstrated by the medical provider. In total, each provider must complete 20 Meaningful Use criteria listed below to qualify for stimulus payments during phase one of the EHR incentive program.

Medgen provides reports to show the provider whether their use of the system satisfies the meaningful use criteria.

Mandatory Meaningful Use Criteria
  • Record patient demographics (including gender, race and ethnicity, date of birth, preferred language) at least 50% of the time.
  • Record vital signs (height, weight, blood pressure, body mass index, and growth charts for children) at least 50% of the time.
  • Maintain active problem lists at least 80% of the time.
  • Maintain active medication lists at least 80% of the time.
  • Maintain active medication allergy lists at least 80% of the time.
  • Record smoking status for patients older than 13 years of age at least 50% of the time.
  • Provide patients with a clinical summary for each office visit within 3 business days, at least 50% of the time.
  • On request, provide patients with an electronic copy of their health information (including test results, problem lists, meds lists, allergies) within 3 business days, at least 50% of the time.
  • Generate electronic prescriptions at least 40% of the time.
  • Use e-prescription for medication orders at least 30% of the time.
  • Implement drug-drug and drug-allergy interaction checks at least 40% of the time.
  • Be able to exchange key clinical information among providers by performing at least one test of the EMR’s ability to do this.
  • Implement one clinical decision support rule, and ability to track compliance with the rule.
  • Implement systems that protect privacy and security of patient data in the EMR.
  • Report clinical quality measures to CMS or states (PQRI).
Selective Meaningful Use Criteria

Providers must demonstrate at least five of the following ten items:

  • Drug-formulary checking
  • Interface lab test results into the EHR
  • Generate lists of patients by specific problems
  • Provide patient-specific education at least 10% of the time
  • Provide medication reconciliation between care settings, at least 50% of the time
  • Provide summary of care record for patients transferred to another provider at least 50% of the time
  • Submit electronic immunization data to local registries. At least one test.
  • Submit electronic epidemology surveillance to public health agencies. At least one test.
  • Send reminders to patients (per patient preference) for preventive and follow-up care, at least 20% of the time, or for over-65 year-olds or under=5 year-olds)
  • Provide patients with timely electronic access (through a patient portal) to their health information, at least 10% of the time.

Qualifying for EHR Incentives.

Who qualifies?

All healthcare providers including physicians and nurse practitioners qualify for the HITECH incentives

Except the following:
  • Any practice not eligible for Medicare or Medicaid payments
  • Physical therapists
  • Pathologists, anesthesiologists
  • Hospital-based emergency physicians
  • Acupuncturists
  • Holistic medicine providers
  • Free Clinic that don't bill Medicare & Medicaid

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 specifies the following locations as qualifying for the HITECH incentives

  • All 50 US states
  • The District of Columbia
  • Puerto Rico
  • The Virgin Islands
  • Guam
  • American Samoa
  • The Northern Mariana Islands

Medgen is a complete Certified EHR.

Our Certification

"This Complete EHR certification is 2011/2012 compliant and has been certified by Drummond Group Inc., an ONC‐ATCB, authorized to conduct complete and modular EHR testing and certification in accordance with the applicable certification criteria adopted by the Secretary of Health and Human Services. This certification does not represent an endorsement by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services or guarantee the receipt of incentive payments."

COMPLETED EHR CERTIFICATION OF THE FOLLOWING:
Complete EHR Ambulatory
 Clinical Quality Measures tested: NQF0001, NQF0013, NQF0018, NQF0024, NQF0027, NQF0028, NQF0031, NQF0032, NQF0034, NQF0038, NQF0041, NQF0043, NQF0047, NQF0055, NQF0056, NQF0059, NQF0061, NQF0062, NQF0064, NQF0067, NQF0070, NQF0081, NQF0421, NQF00575