At least 50 hospital organizations have launched programs to partially subsidize the cost of electronic health records for physicians as permitted under federal regulations announced in 2006, a new study shows.
Exceptions to the so-called Stark law and I.T. safe harbors to federal anti-kickback statutes enable hospitals to subsidize certain EHR costs for physicians.
The Chicago-based Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology, which conducted the study, also determined that another 40 incentive programs have been introduced by government agencies, insurance companies, employer coalitions and public-private partnerships. Of these, half explicitly call for the use of records software certified by the commission.
For instance, one pay-for-performance program available to employers and health plans, Newtown, Conn.-based Bridges to Excellence, recently announced that use of CCHIT-certified EHR software qualifies physicians for monetary bonuses as a reward for superior management of patients with chronic illnesses.
Together, the 90 programs have the potential of offering at least $700 million in funding for EHR costs, according to the “CCHIT Incentive Index” study. Some $150 million of that total is from a Medicare demonstration project that will provide payments to 1,200 practices using certified EHRs.
At least 43,000 physicians are being offered subsidies or participation in state or local initiatives, the study determined.
To view the complete index to incentive programs, which will be updated regularly, visit ehrdecisions.com.
In other news, CCHIT soon will launch a new certification program for stand-alone e-prescribing programs. After public comments and a testing period, the commission expects to launch the effort by July 2009.
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