The technology for storing and accessing your information electronically has become affordable and with the improved performance making it faster to use than ever before. It is now cost affective to buy, install, import your records and train everyone on the system and the long-term benefits quickly return your Investment with benefits like these. 

Key Benefits of Going Paperless 

• All interactions with patients are recorded in less time with more accuracy.
• Quickly access patient records and practice data from anywhere in every room in your practice, on the road, from your home, in the hospital, out of town or country.
• Because your records are safely stored electronically, it is easy to maintain off site copies.
• Key information about patient is shown prominently and not buried in the chart.
• Interactions with labs and pharmacies are faster and more accurate.
• You can analyze the results of your practice’s patient management and statistics.
• Eliminate pulling or searching for charts, In fact, multiple people can work on the same chart at the same time.
• Coping patient files to is much easier for your staff.
• You have all the data you need in front of you when consulting or taking referring doctor calls.
• Create patient Preventative Health lists for mailings or calls.
• Change your file storage areas to be more productive, like to an exam room.
• Easily update patient symptoms and your recommendations at every visit.
• Electronically import lab results, diagnostic images and hospital discharge summaries into the patient’s record.
• Print patient education articles and other handouts in the exam room.
• Electronic prescriptions reduce mistakes with alerts on drug interactions, allergies and other cautions.
• Use the system’s Work List to automate and track office activities, like lab orders, telephone calls and reminders.
• Use the intra-office mail system to assign tasks or easily communicate with staff.
• When patients call, you can pull up their charts in seconds and make notes, from anywhere.
• Transfer billing information direct to your billing system allowing faster claims processing.
• Store test results, x-rays, ECG readings directly into the patient’s electronic chart and even do direct entry with our Welsh Allen and Midmark interfaces.
• With improved documentation you can generate higher service codes.
• Eliminate handwriting issues that lead to mistakes, confusions, lawsuits or wasted time.
• Give better care for your patients.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 includes provisions to encourage physicians to adopt Electronic Health Records (EHRs). The act pays $44,000 or $64,000 to physicians that adopt EHRs over five years. On the other hand, the act will penalize non-adopters by decreasing their Medicare reimbursements. Physicians must meet three criteria to qualify for the incentives. “Eligible professionals” must use a “certified EHR” in a “meaningful way.” Physicians must demonstrate meaningful use of their EHR software to qualify for stimulus payments. Otherwise, they might be tempted to purchase an EHR just so they can get stimulus money, without any real intent to use the system. As of today the Act does specify four guidelines:

E-prescribing, electronic exchange of medical records, on demand patient access to medical information and interoperability of systems.

The first step is to join our step up program. If you use your own PM system or a billing service the warrantee will not apply. It is important to remember that the government's primary goals for ARRA are to encourage care delivery organizations and physician practices to effectively and safely adopt health information technology in order to:

• Improve patient safety

• Improve quality by measuring performance and outcomes

• Better manage and prevent chronic diseases for all populations

• Share information to reduce redundancy and overall costs of health care.

As such, the specific components of meaningful use includes: clinical decision support, computerized physician order entry (CPOE), an electronic exchange of information, clinical quality measuring and reporting, e-Prescribing, a patient portal and the use of a certified EHR solution.

The stimulus package passed for the year 2009 pumps $19 billion into the medical industry to help implement technology that makes health care safer and more connected. Those who prove meaningful use of Electronic Health Records can receive an incentive reimbursement of up to $64,000 over six years. Remember, 70% of the incentive comes within the first two years.

There are two ways you can qualify for the incentive. Qualified providers can qualify under either incentive, but not both. You can qualify either under Medicare or Medicaid. Physicians qualifying under the Medicare portion can receive up to $44,000 and those qualifying under the Medicaid incentive can qualify for up to $64,000. You can receive your incentive payments starting in January of 2011. Physicians who do not implement EHR technology by 2015 will suffer from a 1% reduction in Medicare Payments (reductions will continue to increase after 2015 up to 5%).

Providers qualifying under Medicaid are eligible for up to $63,750 over six years. Your payment is calculated as 85% of the EHR cost (up to $25,000 for the first year), and 85% of annual cost (up to $10,000) over the following five years. To qualify for the Medicaid provision, at least 30% of your cases must be attributable to Medicaid. For pediatricians, the minimum percentage of Medicaid patients is reduced to 20%. However, office-based pediatricians are only eligible to receive up to two thirds of the maximum payment.

Physicians qualifying under the Medicare provision are eligible for up to $44,000. The total amount that you receive is based on how early you adopt and your Medicare Part B billings. (You must submit Medicare Part B claims to qualify.) You will receive the lesser amount of either 75% of your Medicare Part B charges or $44,000 over a five year period from 2011 to 2015. You can also qualify for an early adopter incentive of $3,000 (if you qualify for either 2011 or 2012.) Remember, to receive your maximum payment, you must start now.

• Use EHR software at point of care        

• Prescribe electronically

• Choose an EHR that ensures interoperability or data sharing

• Use an EHR capable of clinical reporting

• At least one clinical decision support rule relevant to a specialty or a high clinical priority

• Electronic claim submission to payors

• Electronically check insurance eligibility (when possible)

• Provide patients with timely electronic access to their health information;

• Provide patients, upon request, with an electronic copy of their discharge instructions and procedures at the time of discharge; and

• Require the capability to exchange health information where possible in 2011, with participation in a national health information exchange by 2015

*By 2013, the criteria will extend to include the ability to provide patients with access to their personal health records populated in real time.

E-prescribing (e-rx) is the electronic transmission of prescription information to a pharmacy. Prescribing electronically, is another important piece of meaningful use. In the AUTOMED solution – Peak Practice , e-Rx is part of a comprehensive, integrated approach to medication management which allows customers the ability to access medication histories, check benefits while ordering, communicate orders to retail and mail order pharmacies, and update patients' records. e-Prescribing ensures a secure exchange of patient information between a wide range of providers, payors, pharmacy benefit managers, and pharmacies. In many ways it is more efficient than paper or faxed prescriptions. Electronic prescriptions avoid the pitfalls of illegible handwriting or difficult-to-read faxes. In addition, e-Rx offers drug interaction checking, which will make sure prescribed drugs will not produce  dangerous side affects when taken together

The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008, H.R. 6331, contains incentives starting in 2009 to encourage the adoption of electronic prescribing technology by prescribers as well as penalties for those that do not adopt by 2012.

Incentive 2% 2% 1% 1% 0.5% None

Penalty None None None 1% 1.5% 2%

Electronic exchange of medical records means an EHR system can send electronic notes, charts, lab results, or any other  medical document. Sending photocopies of charts through the mail or fax is slow and unreliable. Electronic exchange is a more efficient way to share data. Security is the only downside to electronic data exchange. EHRs must conform to HIPAA regulations to protect patient privacy. Interoperability of systems takes electronic exchange of medical records one step further. Rather than just exchanging data, interoperable systems should be able to import data from other systems and export data to other systems in a seamless manner. This will guarantee information is saved in a standard format that can benefit everyone. Security and privacy is also a concern with interoperability. In short, Physicians who adopt and use certified electronic health records soon will be eligible for up to $44,000.00 or 64,000.00 in Medicare or Medicaid bonuses over five years, but doctors who wait too long to go paperless will see lower bonuses or eventual Medicare penalties.

Note: Physicians in rural health professional shortage areas who adopt and use EHRs are eligible for a 10% increase on the bonuses. Doctors may avoid penalties for up to five years if they qualify for a hardship exemption.

To qualify for the full 44,000.00 you must be up and running (and demonstrate “meaningful use” by Jan 1st 2012 or lose the first 18,000.00

2011 $18,000, then $12,000, $8,000, $4,000, $2,000 None

2012 $18,000, then $12,000, $8,000, $4,000, $2,000 None

2013 $15,000, then $12,000, $8,000, $4,000 None

2014 $12,000, then $8,000, $4,000 None

2015 None -1%

2016 None -2%

2017 None -3%

2018 None -3%

2019 None -3%

Source: American Medical Association

AutoMED/Medical Office Solutions customers using Peak Practice are well positioned for the economic stimulus bill and grant opportunities. We have dedicated resources to help health care facilities build the foundation for a successful implementation and comply with the government's latest regulations and reimbursement requirements, including the meaningful use specifications now being defined for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). In addition Peak Practice also has built in support for ICD-10 as well as HIPAA 5010

Start enjoying these benefits

Make it a goal to get an Electronic Health Records system for your practice In 2010!

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