Medical Billing Forum
General Category => General Questions => : PMBS October 01, 2009, 04:11:13 PM
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Does anyone know if it is going to be mandatory for providers to have an EMR system in their office? If so when will it take effect?
Any suggestions on which EMR systmes are good.
Thanks
MR
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You been sleeping? <JK>
You can find this under the ARRA Under the recovery act physiicans will be mandated to use EHR by 2014. Physicians and practices using EMR/EHR can see increased reimbursements as early as October of 2010 if adopted now.
But.. no date is formal I don't believe and we have ICD-10 which will be out first and then of course HITECH which is NOW!
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Linda I bet you belong to MENSA don't you ;D
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No,.. are you teasing me? LOL :o
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No,.. are you teasing me? LOL :o
LOL, it was a compliment actually.
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I just read an article on EHR & the HITECH act and how physicians can be paid up to $44,000 per physician for implementation of EHR. EHR is the universal lifetime health record of an individual with attributes such as eprescribing (which is one of the required aspects to qualify for reimbursement) and can be transmitted to other physicians, while EMR is the internal office documentation a physician maintains on a patient. There are several requirements for reimbursement, "meaningful use" and it must be a "certified EHR" program. Those who do not adopt by 2015 face Medicare payment reductions: 2015- One percent, 2016- Two percent, 2017 & beyond- Three percent. The article is in the Oct/Nov 2009 BC Advantage. I'm using this info as a marketing door opener.
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Be careful because there are no dollar amounts being set upon just yet, also there are companies out there capitalizing on this money. Physicians are being preyed upon right now from all these HIGH end IT companies when really MOST of them have PM systems that have adapted EMR modules already or are in the process of doing so. A better angle might be to get in touch with your own PM software company and ask them about their module and any resale or referral opportunities, this could be a good marketing angle if you approach it from a different angle (meaning.. tell them about falling victim to high end sales pitches and companies that are banking on the big bucks from the stimulus package) promote honesty, trust and integrity and that will be a better angle.
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Good points and excellent suggestions, Linda.