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Physician software vendor athenahealth Inc. is guaranteeing its electronic health record users will receive Medicare meaningful use incentive payments, authorized under the HITECH Act within the economic stimulus law.

The Watertown, Mass.-based company offers outsourced billing services bundled with remotely hosted practice management and electronic records software. Any physician using athenaClinicals by Jan. 1, 2011, will qualify for the guarantee, the company says.

"As a service-based EHR, our monthly fee is the only payment we receive from our clients for our EHR," the company states in documents explaining the guarantee program. "For each month for which you don't receive your qualified HITECH Act Federal Stimulus reimbursement dollars during the first year of funding, we will credit our monthly service payments, for up to six months. This offer applies to HITECH Act reimbursement payments only. Additional terms, conditions and limitations apply."

For instance, the guarantee does not cover Medicaid incentive payments because of variations at the state level. "However, because federal law requires that the Medicaid requirements for 'meaningful use' model those of Medicare, there is a high likelihood that pediatricians (and other physicians with Medicaid patients) on athenaClinicals will qualify," according to the company. "While we cannot guarantee Medicaid reimbursements, it is important to note that the CMS 'meaningful use' criteria look to be the same for both programs. As part of our mission, we are committed to helping physicians qualify and collect every incentive payment they are eligible for--including Medicaid HITECH Act incentive payments."

More information is available at athenahealth.com/bonus.

--Joseph Goedert