CMS Introduces Initiative for Electronic Health Records
Select providers in CareFirst and CareFirst BlueChoice networks (specialty practices are not included) are invited to participate in a new federal initiative that encourages the use of electronic health records (EHRs). The demonstration project, sponsored by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and a group of regional health care organizations, is designed for providers with small or medium practices. Providers could earn incentives up to $58,000 per physician or $290,000 per practice over the course of the five-year program for implementing and successfully integrating electronic health records into their delivery of patient care.
CareFirst and CareFirst BlueChoice are pleased to help promote this program, led by the Maryland/DC Physician EHR Demonstration Collaborative: the Maryland Health Care Commission (MHCC), MedChi the Maryland State Medical Society (MedChi), and the Medical Society of the District of Columbia (MSDC). The EHR initiative is designed not only to encourage the adoption of electronic health records, but also to demonstrate improvements in clinical quality measures and enhance the quality of patient treatment. An estimated 3.6 million patients nationwide are expected to benefit from the effort. Providers will enjoy:
- Improved efficiency of workflow
- Improved billing
- Rapid and remote access to patient information
- Less chart chasing
CareFirst and CareFirst BlueChoice have been working to encourage the adoption of EHRs through initiatives such as our CareFirst Quality Rewards program, through which physicians an earn up to 107 percent of standard reimbursement rates by incorporating quality measures and improvements such as EHRs into their practices.
The deadline to enroll in the EHR demonstration program is Wednesday, November 26, 2008. Interested physicians should contact Kathy Francis at cmsehrdemo@mhcc.state.md.us, or call 410-764-5590 or 877-245-1762. Complete program information is available on the MHCC web site at http://mhcc.maryland.gov/electronichealth/cmsdemo/index.html.
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