A snapshot of the Medicaid EHR Incentives Program

A Program Of The Georgia Department Of Community Health
A SNAPSHOT OF THE
Medicaid EHR Incentives Program

Program Background
The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act established programs under the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to provide incentive payments for the meaningful use of certified electronic health record (EHR) technology by eligible providers. Georgia's Medicaid EHR Incentives Program is a multi-year, multi-stage program administered by the Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH). CMS administers the Medicare incentive program.
Program Goals
Georgia's Medicaid EHR Incentives Program serves two main goals: Instill the use of EHRs in meaningful ways to help Georgia and the nation improve the quality, safety and efficiency of patient care Reward Georgia's providers during the transformation of our nation's health care system
Program Participation
Limited to eligible Medicaid professionals for six years; eligible Medicaid hospitals for three years. Participants must use certified EHR technology and meet all eligibility requirements. Participation is voluntary.

Program period is 2011 2021. Eligible Medicaid Providers are encouraged to begin their participation early to take full advantage of all allowable incentives.

Eligible Medicaid Professionals
Defined as physicians (M.D. and D.O.), nurse practitioners, certified nurse-midwives and dentists. Professionals cannot be hospital-based; must meet 30 percent minimum Medicaid patient volume thresholds. (For pediatricians, minimum threshold is 20 percent with reduced incentive payments.)
Eligible Medicaid Hospitals
Defined as Acute Care Hospitals (including Critical Access) and Children's Hospitals. Acute Care Hospitals must meet a 10% minimum Medicaid patient volume. Children's Hospitals are not required to meet patient volume thresholds and cannot be pediatric wings of larger hospitals.
Certified EHR Technology
Certification of the EHR technology by an Office of the National Coordinator-Authorized Testing and Certification Body (ONC-ATCB) is required. Certification assures purchasers and users that an EHR system or product module offers the necessary technological capability, functionality and security to satisfy meaningful use objectives.
Adopt/Implement/Upgrade & Meaningful Use
Participants must adopt (acquire and install), implement (commence usage of), upgrade (expand functionality with new version, etc.) or demonstrate meaningful use of the technology during year one of their program participation. In all subsequent years, providers must demonstrate meaningful use (i.e., how the technology moves beyond being a digital medical chart into being a valuable tool to transform health care service delivery and improve health outcomes).

June 2011

2 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, Ga 30303

www.dch.georgia.gov

A Snapshot Of The Medicaid EHR Incentives Program

Requirements
Participants must meet the definition of Eligibility and applicable Medicaid patient volume thresholds, adopt/ implement/upgrade or meaningfully use certified EHR technology, register with CMS and the State of Georgia and provide the necessary Attestation of certified EHR usage.

Incentives for Eligible Medicaid Professionals
For those meeting all program requirements, professionals may receive up to $63,750 total during their six years of program participation. Year one: $21,250; each subsequent year: $8,500. The total incentive for pediatricians who meet the 20 percent patient volume but fall short of the 30 percent patient volume threshold is $14,167 in the first year and $5,667 in each of the subsequent years. This adds up to a maximum Medicaid EHR incentive payment of $42,500 that may be paid over a six-year period.

Incentives for Eligible Medicaid Hospitals
A base amount plus a calculated formula amount (based on Medicare/Medicaid share, transition and per discharge-related factors) may be paid to hospitals during their three years of program participation. (Note: Certain hospitals may qualify for both the Medicaid and Medicare incentive programs.)

Registration
Adoption/implementation/upgrade or demonstration of meaningful use is NOT required at the time of registration. However, it is required for your Attestation submission. Federal and state registrations are required for Georgia's Medicaid EHR Incentives Program. Federal registration is available now through the CMS website: www.cms.gov/EHRIncentive Programs/. State of Georgia registration opens in August 2011. Visit www. dch.georgia.gov/ehr for more information.
Incentive Payments
An Attestation of certified EHR usage including any applicable calculation worksheets must be submitted and approved for payment. Once approved, allow 30 45 days for payment. Submissions and payments are annual. Incentive payments are expected to commence in September 2011.

Important Program Dates

Program Period

2011 2021

Program Registration (Federal/CMS)
Program (GA/DCH)
Incentive Payments Disbursed
Last Date to Begin Participation

Now Open August 2011 September 2011
2016

Technical Assistance GA-HITREC
The National Center for Primary Care (NCPC), located at the Morehouse School of Medicine, serves as the Georgia Health Information Technology Regional Extension Center (GA-HITREC).
GA-HITREC's mission is to use a community-oriented approach to assist health care professionals with selection, implementation and meaningful use of certified EHR systems to improve clinical outcomes and the quality of patient care provided.
Group purchasing plans and technical assistance are available to all eligible professionals (i.e., priority primary care providers including physicians {M.D., D.O.}, nurse practitioners, obstetrics, internal medicine and pediatrics) participating in either the Medicare or Medicaid incentive programs.

For More Information
Visit these websites to learn more, or email us directly at medicaidincentives@dch.ga.gov. CMS Medicare & Medicaid Incentive Program: www.cms.gov/EHRIncentivePrograms DCH Georgia's Medicaid EHR Incentives Program: www.dch.georgia.gov/ehr GA-HITREC For Certified EHR Technology Technical Assistance: www.primarycareforall.org or 404-752-1015 or 877-658-1990 EHR Certification & List of Certified EHRs Office of the National Coordinator: healthit.hhs.gov/ certification and onc.chpl.force.com/ehrcert