Author Topic: Electronic Medical Records  (Read 4752 times)

oneround

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Electronic Medical Records
« on: January 07, 2010, 09:14:37 PM »
Electronic medical records: Extra payments designed to get more doctors on board
Enhanced reimbursements for health records systems part of federal stimulus bill
January 7, 2010

By Bruce Japsen


Doctors soon may have fewer excuses for not getting their offices equipped with electronic medical records.

Beginning next year, physicians will be eligible for extra payments from federal health insurance programs upon implementing an electronic medical record system. The enhanced reimbursements were made possible by the federal stimulus bill signed into law last year by President Barack Obama.

In the meantime, private firms are beginning to offer incentives to help doctors finance their electronic health record systems, which can cost several thousand dollars even for a small practice.

Minneapolis-based health insurance giant UnitedHealth Group told the Tribune this week that it will offer interest-free loans to small doctor practices that adopt Ingenix CareTracker, a Web-based medical record system. Chicago-based Allscripts- Misys Healthcare Solutions Inc. said it is offering a six-month, no-payment program for qualifying purchasers of its electronic health records software.

Under terms of the federal legislation, physicians can receive more than $40,000 in Medicare payments over five years beginning in 2011 for implementing an electronic health record system. The Obama administration last week announced it was seeking public comment on new regulations officials say "lay a foundation for improving quality, efficiency and safety through meaningful use of certified electronic health record technology."

Obama officials and consumer groups say electronic medical record systems are critical to eliminating paperwork, reducing costs and creating a more efficient health care delivery system. Doctor groups have said one of the obstacles slowing the implementation of electronic records has been cost.

Though 3 out of 4 Americans receive their medical care from doctors in small practices, less than 15 percent of the physician groups are using an electronic record system, according to a 2008 New England Journal of Medicine article.

UnitedHealth said its CareTracker systems can cost less than $7,000 per doctor per year.

UnitedHealth is "helping physicians overcome the challenge of funding their upfront investment -- the biggest barrier to implementing health information technology," said Bill Miller, executive vice president of health care delivery for Ingenix, the firm's health information technology subsidiary.
Michael A. Reynolds, CPC, CCP-P, CPMB, OS
Project Manager
Corporate Compliance
Sharp HealthCare

DMK

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Re: Electronic Medical Records
« Reply #1 on: January 14, 2010, 04:42:50 PM »
$7000 per doctor PER YEAR???!!!!!  With all of the reimbursement reductions and NCCI edits how are we supposed to come up with that amount without cramming in more patients in less time and still provide good care?

Michele

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Re: Electronic Medical Records
« Reply #2 on: January 14, 2010, 09:10:58 PM »
I agree, pricing of some of these software applications is out of control.

Michele
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PMRNC

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Re: Electronic Medical Records
« Reply #3 on: January 20, 2010, 12:53:24 PM »
What I would like to know as I've not found anything on this issue is what are they going to do about privacy, there are going to be many patients who just simply don't want their records in an electronic exchange.. I will be one of them. I don't trust our govt as far as I can throw them, I don't want my records out there in any way, shape or form. Same goes for my information going offshore for billing or any other purpose, a provider will NOT get my permission for that. If I wanted a Pakistani to see my medical records, I'd go over there for treatment.
Linda Walker
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Michele

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Re: Electronic Medical Records
« Reply #4 on: January 20, 2010, 11:28:41 PM »
I recently heard (but haven't read anything yet) that there is legislation that will prevent PHI from going out of the country which would snuff out the off shore companies.  Have you heard this?  -  Although again, we are trusting the government!

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Re: Electronic Medical Records
« Reply #4 on: January 20, 2010, 11:28:41 PM »

oneround

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Re: Electronic Medical Records
« Reply #5 on: January 21, 2010, 01:45:34 PM »
michele, I have also heard the same but have not found anything stating that it's on the fllor yet.  I am aware that there is a petiton from many people in our field that has been passed around to get this to the house
Michael A. Reynolds, CPC, CCP-P, CPMB, OS
Project Manager
Corporate Compliance
Sharp HealthCare

PMRNC

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Re: Electronic Medical Records
« Reply #6 on: January 26, 2010, 04:14:31 PM »
It's still up for house passage. It's HR: 427 "Notify American's Before Outsourcing Private Information"
We have a petition up if anyone is interested in signing at:

 http://www.rallycongress.com/support-for-h-r-427-nabopia/1585/support-h-r-427-notify-americans-before-outsourcing-personal-information/

This is only the FIRST step.. this just says that anyone outsourcing any PRIVATE information must notify the patient first. ONE would assume if for example I said "NO" You can't to a provider who has notified me..that he can't. However I've not found it to be so cut/dry.. we can only support pending legislation and hope with passage it is made more clear.
Linda Walker
Practice Managers Resource & Networking Community
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jcbilling

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Re: Electronic Medical Records
« Reply #7 on: January 27, 2010, 01:13:39 AM »
There are other alternatives to expensive EMR solutons.

I have started looking around for my providers and came across PracticeFusion.com I haven't used them yet, but they no cost to use (like Office Ally)

It will also be able to integrate with Kareo's billing software shortly.

Has anyone heard of Practice Fusion? When I talked to their sales department, they said they would meet the standards that have been published by the government to be eligible for the incentive.

QueenAlicia

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Re: Electronic Medical Records
« Reply #8 on: January 29, 2010, 03:05:50 AM »
What I would like to know as I've not found anything on this issue is what are they going to do about privacy, there are going to be many patients who just simply don't want their records in an electronic exchange.. I will be one of them. I don't trust our govt as far as I can throw them, I don't want my records out there in any way, shape or form. Same goes for my information going offshore for billing or any other purpose, a provider will NOT get my permission for that. If I wanted a Pakistani to see my medical records, I'd go over there for treatment.

Hahaha Linda, I love that last line. And the thing is they could be providing those jobs to Americans.  I will take a look at that petition. 

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Re: Electronic Medical Records
« Reply #8 on: January 29, 2010, 03:05:50 AM »