Thursday, Aug. 2, 2012
This Week's News
EHR system adoption is up, but few doctors receive incentive payments
Newly released data shows that more than half of physicians have adopted electronic health record (EHR) systems, but only a fraction have received incentive payments under the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' (CMS) "meaningful use" program.
Survey results released last month by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics revealed that 55 percent of physicians had adopted an EHR system in 2011. About 85 percent of these physicians reported that they were satisfied with their systems, and 74 percent said they believed using their system enhanced overall patient care.
While the survey found that approximately three-quarters of physician adopters have systems that are certified to meet meaningful use requirements, CMS's latest data shows that just 214,000 physicians have registered for the program. Of these, only about 89,000 physicians have received payments. View a story by American Medical News about the survey.
The AMA continues to urge CMS to create greater flexibility in the meaningful use program so more physicians can participate and fulfill the program requirements. Read more about the specific program revisions the AMA is seeking in a recent story in AMA Wire.
The AMA offers resources to help physicians select, implement and maintain EHR systems. The AMA health information technology Web page also includes detailed explanations about qualifying for the CMS incentives.
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