Health Information Technology

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Health Information Technology (Health IT) Resources and Activities

AMA stimulus comments and updates

Meaningful use

Update!

  • Read an overview of CMS' recently issued proposed regulation on requirements for being a meaningful user of electronic health record systems for the purpose of receiving Medicare incentive payments. To download the rule or to learn more about any of the information on this page, please visit http://healthit.hhs.gov. 
  • After reviewing recommendations from the Health IT Policy Committee, a federal advisory body appointed under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule on Dec., 30, 2009. The CMS-issued Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) defines meaningful use and the Medicare and Medicaid EHR incentive programs (see the summary above).

NOTE:  The proposed regulation issued by CMS is the first step in the formal rulemaking process. The rule include a 60-day comment period, and the AMA expects to provide comments before the March 15, 2010 deadline. Expect a final rule late this spring.

The AMA provided significant input to the Committees, CMS and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC) on the meaningful use term through the following:

Certification

In step with CMS, on Dec. 30, 2009, Office of the National Coordinator (HHS/ONC) issued an Interim Final Rule (IFR) with comment period. The IFR provides an initial set of standards, implementation specifications, and certification criteria for EHR technology. Expect a final rule in early spring. For more information about EHR certification as it is today, please refer to our frequently asked question sheet. Also, visit www.cchit.org/products/CCHIT_Certified to view updated information about systems achieving CCHIT certification for the proposed 2011 meaningful use requirements.  

NOTE: HHS/ONC has yet to publish one more NPRM with comment period establishing certification programs for health information technology. This rule, expected this spring, will explain the certification process and how organizations can become accredited certification bodies.

Regional extension program

The Office of the National Coordinator hosted a webinar on Aug. 27, 2009 to answer questions about the $598 million to be awarded over the next four years to establish 70 Health Information Technology Regional Extension Centers across the United States. The new centers will receive between $1 million and $30 million each to support their establishment and initial efforts, and then will be expected to quickly achieve sustainability as they help providers across the country become meaningful electronic health record (EHR) users in 2011 and beyond.NOTE: Due to the overwhelming response to the funding opportunity announcement, HHS/ONC reduced the award cycle from three to two rounds. Initial award decisions for Regional Centers are anticipated in the first quarter of FY2010. Additional awards are expected as March 31, 2010.View the archived webinar. Additional Department of Health and Human Services materials:

Questions about the process? E-mail regional-center-applications@hhs.gov.

Health IT webinars

Newly archived!

Free on-demand access to popular health IT webinar series from AMA and TransforMED

If you missed the live sessions, you can still learn what it means to be a meaningful user of health IT. Hear from AMA Trustee Steven Stack, MD, and other AMA staff, and learn from experienced TransforMED facilitators and well-known health IT experts such as Dr. David Kibbe, Bruce Kleaveland, Dr. Todd Taylor, and Dr. Steve Waldren.

View the archived webinars below anytime. 

Webinar #1: Meaningful use of technology to support patient-centered care

Jan., 14, 2010

Presenters: Terry McGeeney, MD, CEO, TransforMED; Amanda Ervin, director, Health IT, AMA

Webinar #2: Preparing your practice for health IT

Jan. 21, 2010

Presenters: Dr. Steve Waldren, MD, director, Health IT, American Academy of Family Physicians; Ana Jensen, practice enhancement facilitator, Ph.D., TransforMED; Mari Savickis, assistant director, Federal Affairs, American Medical Association

Webinar #3: Selecting the appropriate technology for your practice and developing implementation strategies

1:00 p.m. EST, Jan. 28, 2010

Learn how to identify your practice’s needs and requirements, in addition to various strategies for introducing and implementing health IT, and staging implementation. The importance of integration between technologies will also be discussed.

Presenters: Bruce Kleaveland, health IT consultant; Dave Kibbe, health IT specialist/consultant, American Academy of Family Physicians

Webinar #4: Engaging patients in using technology to manage their personal health care

Feb. 4, 2010

Presenters: Liza Assatourians, JD, legislative counsel, AMA; Elaine Skoch, practice enhancement facilitator, TransforMED; Todd B. Taylor, MD, FACEP, physician executive, Health Solutions Group, Microsoft

Archived webinars 

Stimulus Health IT provisions webinar at Annual Meeting

June, 2009

Presenter: David Hunt, MD, Chief Medical Officer for the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology

ARRA webinar series

Listen to the archived webinars below to hear from experts, health care leaders and physician practices as they review key components of ARRA and offer insights on the impact to the physician community.

Stimulus 101: Basics of the Health Information Technology Provisions

May 21, 2009

Presenters: Glen Tullman, Chief Executive Officer, Allscripts; Margaret Garikes, director, Federal Affairs, AMA

Stimulus 102: Update on the Health Information Technology Provisions

June 9, 2009

Presenters: Russ Keene, Vice President, Ingenix CareTracker; Amanda Ervin, Director of Health IT, AMA

Stimulus 103: Real World Perspectives

July 14, 2009

Financing electronic health record (EHR/EMR) systems: Should your practice accept a donation?

May, 2008
Fee: $95 for AMA members; $150 for non-members

AMA ePrescribing Learning Center

With so many questions surrounding ePrescribing, who can you turn to for answers?

The learning center features:

• Unbiased coverage of ePrescribing system vendor pricing and features, plus side-by-side system comparison and rate a vendor capability
• Customized system recommendations based on answers from an interactive questionairre
• Calculators to estimate potential time savings and determine Medicare ePprescribing incentive payments 
• Readiness and planning tools to map out an implementation plan

Physician practices can learn more about ePrescribing by reading A Clinician's Guide to Electronic Prescribing. In addition, the AMA has compiled a list of FAQs and other informational resources regarding Medicare’s Electronic Prescribing Incentive Program. 

Visit AMA ePrescribing Learning Center

CMS ePrescribing Incentive Program

Update!

CMS Electronic Prescribing Incentive Program changes for 2010 include:

  • Skilled nursing facility and home care are now eligible services
  • Eligible professionals need only report 25 separate electronic prescribing events during the reporting period
  • Eligible professionals will only report one G-code (G8553) that reflects at least one prescription created during the encounter was generated and transmitted electronically using a qualified electronic prescribing system.  
  • Data may be reported on the 2010 ePrescribing measure through claims, a qualified registry, or a qualified EHR product.  CMS will post a list of qualified registries and qualified EHR vendors and products for the 2010 E-Prescribing Incentive Program on its Web site.

Group practice 2010 changes:

  • Group practices (200 or more eligible professionals) must be selected to participate in the PQRI group practice reporting option.
  • Group practices must report the 2010 ePrescribing measure at least 2,500 times during the reporting period to be considered a successful electronic prescriber. 
  • Group practices may choose to report the ePrescribing measure through claims, a qualified registry, or qualified EHR product.
  • Group practices interested in participating in the 2010 PQRI through the group practice reporting option are required to submit a self-nomination letter to CMS, requesting to participate in the 2010 PQRI group practice reporting option.  Instructions for submitting the self-nomination letter will be posted on the PQRI section of the CMS Web site by November 15, 2009.

ePrescribing incentive program resources

This frequently asked questions (FAQ) flier will help providers determine their eligibility for the incentive program and learn more about the reporting requirements. Providers may also consult the following resources:

Find general information about e-prescribing in "A Clinician's Guide to Electronic Prescribing."

ePrescribing incentive program background

Starting in January 2009, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will offer eligible providers incentive payments when they use an electronic prescribing (e-prescribing) system to prescribe for Medicare patients. The CMS Electronic Prescribing Incentive Program was authorized by the “Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008; (MIPPA), which became law on July 15, 2008.

For 2009 and 2010, e-prescribing incentive amounts will be 2% of a provider's total estimated allowed charges for covered professional services during the reporting period (one calendar year). The incentive amount reduces to 1 percent in 2011 and 2012 and finally to 0.5 percent in 2013.

AMA Health IT in the News

Dr. Sal Volpe, AMA Health IT Advisory Panel member, talks to Good Morning America about portable health applications for patients interested in monitoring their health on the go.