Several great questions were submitted in our recent economic stimulus webinars and we thought many of you could benefit from seeing the panel’s responses. Here is a sampling of audience questions and the responses from William Bernstein and Joseph Ray of Manatt Health Systems.
General questions:
Q. Will that $44k be taxed?
A. This is not specifically addressed under HITECH, however the assumption is that it will be treated the same as other Medicare payments.
Q. Where do I go to/how do I apply for the EHR incentives?
A. This is still to be determined.
Q. If you purchased an EHR system in 2008 can the cost be recouped?
A. Practices that have already implemented and are "meaningfully using" a certified Electronic Health Record (EHR) system will qualify under the current understanding of the law.
Q. How do you qualify and who do you notify?
A. This is still to be determined.
Q. Eligibility for Medicare Advantage Plans: i.e., Secure Horizons, Humana?
A. The vast majority of payments will be made through original Medicare fee-for-service. Certain hospitals owned by Medicare Advantage organizations (MAOs) and physicians employed by MAOs or who predominantly serve a single MAO's enrollees will be paid through the MAO.
Q. Did you say that Medicare Advantage plans will go towards Medicare patients?
A. For the Medicare hospital incentives, inpatient days of Medicare Advantage enrollees count toward total Medicare days.
Q. Do you see the DEA changing their rules on electronic transmission of narcotics to enable more compliance with electronic prescriptions?
A. Last year the DEA issued a draft ruling with a public comment period. A final ruling has not been issued. It remains to be seen if the DEA will change that rule. At this time, it doesn't appear so.
Q. What does HIE and CPOE stand for?
A. HIE is Health Information Exchange and CPOE is computerized physician order entry.
Who qualifies:
Q. What if one doctor in the group doesn't comply, does that mean that he is the only one who doesn't receive the $$ or no one in the group receives the $$??
A. Under the current understanding, only the noncompliant physician would not receive the incentive dollars.
Q. We see both Medicare and Medicaid, but not at 30%. Will we qualify?
A. The 30% threshold applies only with respect to Medicaid business; there is no similar threshold for Medicare business.
Q. Are the thresholds based on number of patients, number of patient visits or on the dollar amount of services provided?
A. Medicaid thresholds are based on patient volume.
Q. My office currently uses Sage Intergy EHR and Sage Practice Analytics. When will those of us that have implemented these products see incentives from Medicare and Medicaid? We are reporting ePrescribing currently and are getting ready to implement PQRI.
A. Practices will only be able to leverage one incentive or the other (Medicare or Medicaid) -- but not both. Practices that have already implemented and are "meaningfully using" a certified electronic health record system will qualify under the current understanding of the law. Practices that see significant amounts of both Medicare and Medicaid patients may want to "run the numbers" after the definitions are finalized so they can determine which method would offer a more attractive incentive.
Q. We are a free clinic and do not bill Medicaid or Medicare. Do we still qualify for the stimulus?
A. Free clinics do not qualify for the meaningful use payments.
Q. If you are a group practice, will all physicians in the group receive the full incentive. Would an optometrist be eligible or is it just MD's?
A. Eligibility and payment amounts are determined on an individual practitioner basis. Optometrists are not eligible for Medicaid payments. They probably also are not eligible for the Medicare incentives, but there is some ambiguity on this point under HITECH.
Q. Stimulus $$s do include PAs and NPs -- what about physical therapists??
A. NPs are eligible for the Medicaid incentives. PAs are eligible for the Medicaid incentives only to the extent they are practicing in rural health clinics or FQHCs led by PAs. Neither NPs nor PAs are eligible for the Medicare incentives. Physical therapists are not eligible for the Medicare or Medicaid incentives.
Q. Where do chiropractors fit in for eligibility?
A. Chiropractors are not eligible for Medicaid payments. They probably also are not eligible for the Medicare incentives, but there is some ambiguity on this point under HITECH.
Meaningful use webinars
If you weren’t able to attend the meaningful use webinars or missed a portion of them, you can still watch the recorded versions. Simply visit the links below and register to gain access to the recordings.
Meaningful Use and the Adoption of EHRs
Meaningful Use for Practices Using EHRs
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Sage Intergy EHR is CCHIT CertifiedSM electronic health records software designed to complement the work style and clinical approach of every physician in your practice. Sage Intergy EHR focuses on enhancing data intake and communication to allow you to work smarter by leveraging and sharing your practice's clinical data.
Sage Intergy EHR was not just designed to work with a variety of clinical approaches. According to a recent report by Health Industry Insights, Sage Intergy EHR is also highly rated for both “Fit to Market Needs” and “Ownership Confidence”.
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