New Bill Would Extend EHR Incentive Payments to Physician Assistants

Posted by AMS at 30 AUG 8:37 am

This week, Reps. Karen Bass (D-Calif.) and Lee Terry (R-Neb.) introduced legislation (HR 2729) — called the Health IT Modernization for Underserved Communities Act — that would allow physician assistants who meet certain requirements to qualify for incentive payments under the meaningful use program, Modern Healthcare reports.

Under the 2009 federal economic stimulus package, health care providers who demonstrate meaningful use of certified electronic health records can qualify for Medicaid and Medicare incentive payments.

According to the American Academy of Physician Assistants, physicians and nurse practitioners can receive incentive payments if Medicaid beneficiaries account for at least 30% of their patient volume (Zigmond, Modern Healthcare, 8/4).

HR 2729 would expand those eligibility requirements so physician assistants could receive the incentive payments if Medicaid beneficiaries account for at least 30% of their patient load (Rodak, Becker’s Hospital Review, 8/4).

In a statement, AAPA President Robert Wooten praised the legislation, saying “this bill extends the promise of improved medical care to the Medicaid patients served by a physician assistant.”

The bill has been referred to the House Energy and Commerce Committee (Modern Healthcare, 8/4).

Source: www.ihealthbeat.org

Another Client Joins the AMS Community

Posted by AMS at 26 AUG 8:00 am

American Medical Software is pleased to announce the addition of Summit Medical Resources from Louisville, KY to the AMS client community.

Summit Medical previously used one of our existing AMS clients to do the billing for them. The practice has since then become more independent and wanted to bring the billing on site and have the option to do electronic medical records and appointment scheduling. The office also wanted the ability to bill for other practices and offer the option to remote in to use EMR and appointment scheduling. Purchasing the Practice Management ULTRA System, comprised of the electronic medical records, billing and financial management, and appointment scheduling modules, has given Summit Medical the opportunity to expand their services beyond their own practice and into others.

Welcome to Summit Medical Resources from all of the staff at American Medical Software.

How a Solo Physician Aced Stage 1 Meaningful Use

Posted by AMS at 23 AUG 10:10 am

Mention “Stage 1″ and most physicians will think you’re talking about the initial phases of a disease or a medical condition such as cancer.  A few might think of a rocket launching into space.

But Stage 1 also refers to a portion of the so-called meaningful use requirements for electronic medical records, which providers must meet in order to qualify for financial incentives from the federal government.

That type of Stage 1 may be just as daunting as cancer or space flight to some older physicians who are tentative about the switch from paper files.

Patrick Golden, MD, a primary care physician and small practice owner in Fresno, CA, isn’t one of them. He’s unfazed when it comes to meaningful use. He has already steered his solo practice through Stage 1 approval, a journey he says has been occasionally frustrating, and sometimes funny, but ultimately worthwhile, with an EMR and a payday at the end.

“From the very beginning when I heard of the program, I knew we were going to do this. Absolutely there was no doubt,” said Golden, 55. “We sought the electronic health records for a variety of reasons, even before the stimulus money was available. I thought it would be neat to upgrade our billing software. We had an old DOS (computer) system.”

As of July 31, more than $397 million in Medicare and Medicaid incentive payments have been made to healthcare professionals who have demonstrated that they are making “meaningful use” of new technology.

The criteria are set over the course of the next five years. Stage 1 runs through 2011 and 2012, with financial incentives for records and data improvements such as e-prescribing.

Golden admits that when he began the meaningful use program in January 2010 it was a struggle. One nurse quit, probably over the program, and Golden and his wife spent months scanning documents, weekends, too. At the same time, he faced a Medicare audit, which he says was complicated by the switch from paper to EMR.

More than one year later, Golden has gotten some money back, and he says he runs a more efficient medical office without paper records and with an EMR portal that allows instant access to patient records, labs, and most tests. His patients are more engaged in their care, he says, and “and that’s what healthcare reform is supposed to be about.”

Source: www.healthleadersmedia.com

Another Client Joins the AMS Community

Posted by AMS at 19 AUG 8:00 am

American Medical Software is pleased to announce the addition of Texas Hills Vascular Specialists from Fredricksburg, TX to the AMS client community.

The physician at Texas Hills Vascular previously logged into the AMS software remotely. The software was owned by a local hospital. Recently the practice was purchased by a larger vascular surgery clinic and the physician was offered the use of their electronic medical records but ultimately chose to have the clinic purchase the AMS electronic medical records for use at their location. The physician simply preferred the AMS system over the other software being offered.

Welcome to Texas Hills Vascular Specialists from all of the staff at American Medical Software.

EHR Incentives Flow to Providers

Posted by AMS at 16 AUG 9:29 am

Hundreds of hospitals and health-care providers have received about $400 million in Medicare and Medicaid incentive payments this year as part of a government strategy designed to encourage use of electronic health records, a federal health official says.

Medicare payments have gone to 100 hospitals and 2,383 health-care professionals who have achieved “meaningful use” of their EHRs, said Robert Tagalicod, director of the Office of eHealth Standards and Services at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, speaking to members of the Health IT Policy Committee last week.

In addition, 3,500 providers in 21 states have received their first EHR-related payments through Medicaid, according to a report of Tagalicod’s remarks published by ModernHealthcare.com. Providers seeking Medicaid funds can begin receiving payments for having new or upgraded EHRs, rather than proving that they have attained meaningful use of those digital record systems, according to the report.

In all, 77,000 providers have registered for EHR incentive payments under both programs, Tagalicod told the committee.

Incentive payments will continue over the next several years as the government phases in more complex EHR performance requirements and systems are upgraded.

Source: www.nextgov.com