GOVERNMENTNew HHS rules ease restrictions on IT giveawaysThe plan would let hospitals and group practices give physicians e-prescribing hardware and software or electronic medical record technology with a prescription component.By David Glendinning, amednews staff. Oct. 24/31, 2005. Washington -- For many doctors who see Medicare patients, getting free electronic medical record technology from a partner in health care would break a couple of federal laws. But that soon could change, now that the government has proposed new ways to get around these statutory barriers. Two Health and Human Services agencies -- the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the Office of Inspector General -- recently unveiled proposed health IT rules aimed at increasing physicians' use of such technology. Taken together, the regulations would change the Medicare statute to permit hospitals, group practices, Medicare drug plans and Medicare managed care organizations to donate certain types of technology to doctors without running afoul of physician self-referral and kickback prohibitions. Currently, doctors who would like to take advantage of technology offered by such groups face a dilemma. They can accept the gift and risk federal sanctions by continuing to refer Medicare patients to the donating partner, or they can avoid the appearance of an improper financial relationship by paying fair market price for the IT products. Doctors shouldn't have to make a choice between these less-than-ideal options, said CMS Administrator Mark McClellan, MD, PhD. "Restrictions on relationships between physicians and other health care entities are very important for assuring that Medicare dollars are spent appropriately, but they were never intended to stand in the way of bringing effective electronic health care to patients," he said. "We are bringing our rules in line with what we are working together to achieve -- an interoperable electronic health care system that benefits patients by improving care, reducing complications and unnecessary tests and procedures." [...]Full text of American Medical News content is available to AMA members and paid subscribers.
Copyright 2005 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.
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