Meaningful Use

On December 30, 2009, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a notice of proposed rulemaking to implement provisions of the Recovery Act that provide incentive payments for the meaningful use of certified EHR technology.

To view the full document, please click here to visit the Federal Register notice and download a PDF copy.

The Recovery Act authorizes CMS to provide reimbursement incentives for eligible professionals to become "meaningful users" of certified electronic health record (EHR) technology. The incentives range as high as $44,000 to $64,000 per provider over a five-year period, and will help to offset acquisition, implementation, and training expenses your practice will incur.

Demonstrating meaningful use will include attestation of implementation of a certified system, as well as specific reporting on health outcomes. Each state will determine how meaningful use will be confirmed and may require additional reporting. Florida Medicaid has indicated that Regional Extension Centers will be a key component of their strategy to reach providers throughout the state.