Advantages To Being Arra Certified

The federal government is offering a program of financial incentives to encourage adoption of EMR systems

. Providers are strongly advised to get on the road to achieving "meaningful use" of ARRA certified software to qualify for these incentives.

What is ARRA?

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) includes sweeping changes that affect, among other things, the adoption of electronic medical records. This act includes financial incentives to reward medical providers who achieve meaningful use of EMR systems in an effort to improve the efficiency of medical care in this country.

The exact definition of meaningful use has not been stated yet, but the Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology (CCHIT) is not waiting. They are the only organization authorized to certify EMRs for ARRA funding and they are offering preliminary ARRA certified labels in readiness for upcoming government programs. Using a certified EMR system puts a provider on the fast track to full ARRA certified status and the incentives that go with it.

What Are ARRA Benefits?

Starting in 2011, providers using ARRA certified EMRs who have achieve meaningful use will receive direct cash payments as a reward for early EMR adoption. There is a total of $17.2 billion allotted for these incentives, to be paid to healthcare providers who meet the ARRA requirements.

The amount of the incentives depends on when the EMR is adopted. Providers reaching ARRA certified status in 2011 or 2012 will receive $44,000 paid out in five annual payments ranging from $18,000 the first year to $2,000 the fifth year. Providers who become ARRA certified in 2013 will receive reduced incentives of $39,000 and those who reach certification in 2014 will get $24,000. The incentives will expire after that and providers who have not achieved certification by 2014 will not be able to share in the rewards.

Begin Immediately

CCHIT chairman Mark Leavitt has cautioned providers not to wait. Meaningful use of an EMR cannot be achieved overnight and he estimates a best-case situation would take 18 months from installation to meaningful use. A more realistic estimate would be two years or more.

Medical providers must get started today if they want to reach early incentives by becoming certified by 2012. Delaying EMR adoption by another year could cost a provider thousands of dollars in lost incentives. Longer delays may cause a provider to miss the incentive program entirely.

EMR adoption is an expensive process and the ARRA incentives will be a valuable resource to help medical practices fund the operation. EMR use has been climbing in recent years and with the widespread adoption the ARRA incentives will inspire, practices that do not have EMR systems will be left behind by their partners.

Not using an EMR is not an option anymore. Providers should start on the path to electronic medical records as soon as possible.

by: Christine Harrell

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