A snapshot of the Medicaid Incentive Program [Feb. 2010]

A Program Of The Georgia Department Of Community Health
A SNAPSHOT OF THE

Medicaid Incentive Program

Program Summary
The Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH) was awarded $3,171,328 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), to create a State Medicaid Health Information Technology Plan (SMHP) and complete initial planning activities related to promoting the adoption and utilization of electronic health records (EHR) among Medicaid providers. The funding was made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Medicaid Incentive Program (MIP).

The SMHP will outline Georgia's strategy for providing payment incentives to Medicaid providers interested in purchasing an EHR system and re-engineering their practices to maximize the use of health information technology. The plan will also define the reimbursement methodology for Medicaid providers who adopt EHRs in accordance with the meaningful use criteria. The plan will bring Georgia a step closer to achieving its overarching goal of increasing the utilization of electronic health records and electronic health information exchange (HIE).

Georgia will use the CMS funds to:

Conduct an environmental scan of the state's present Health IT landscape, including, but not limited to the current use of EHR among Georgia providers and existence of operational HIEs in Georgia
Develop a strategic plan for Health IT for Georgia's Medicaid program that aligns with the state's overarching strategic goals outlined in the DCH Office of Health Information Technology & Transparency (OHITT) Plan
Design the implementation strategy for the Medicaid Incentive

MIP Time Line

Conduct an environmental scan of current Health IT landscape
Develop strategic State Medicaid Health IT Plan

May 2010 June 2010

Program (MIP) which will allow Medicaid providers in Georgia to

Design the implementation July 2010

access ARRA funds to purchase a certified EHR and the technical

strategy for MIP

assistance required for successful implementation
Plan for the Department's capability of providing management and oversight of the incentive program, including routine tracking of meaningful use of certified EHR technology and reporting mechanisms

Begin payment and monitoring of incentives for EHRs to eligible providers

January 2011

Create a program that is consistent with the applicable laws and

regulations governing HIE, while ensuring the privacy and security of the exchanged data, as outlined in

the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and the Health Information Technology for

Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH)

Develop a comprehensive program that aligns the MIP with the existing state Health IT initiatives and new

activities funded by ARRA

Create an education and outreach plan to educate Medicaid providers about how to use the MIP

Enlist and draw upon the expertise necessary to develop the DCH approved plan that includes but is not

limited to legal, financial, and programmatic experts

DCH will leverage existing relationships across the health care and Health IT community to ensure that stakeholders are engaged in the development of Health IT in Georgia.

Funding through this award is strictly for planning for the Medicaid Health IT Roadmap and to prepare for the administration of MIP. CMS will provide funds for implementation of the SMHP and MIP subsequent to submission of approved strategic and operational plans, and after these planning activities are complete.

2 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, Ga 30303 w www.dch.georgia.gov February 2010