The stimulus Bill and EHRs/ EMRs

If you are a healthcare provider, you can take advantage of the $51 billion that has been allocated to the health care industry, $19 billion of which will be used to incentivize medical practices to adopt and implement Electronic Health Records (EHRs), also known as Electronic Medical Records (EMRs).

Beginning in 2011 running through 2015, providers deemed to be “meaningful users” of EHR systems will be eligible to receive $40,000 - $60,000 in incentive payments paid out over five years in the form of increased Medicare and Medicaid premiums.  If you would like more information on this stimulus plan or EMR options contact our instrument specialist, Dan Diaz, at 800.331.2716 x 212.

Consumers may actually resist electronic health records, for fear they they are not as safe as traditional record keeping. There are some studies suggesting it will be consumer demand that drives the adoption of electronic health records, but a recent Harris Interactive poll revealed that a large percentage of consumers feel their records will not be secure in electronic form.

View results of the Harris Interactive poll here.