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Photo by Grant HuangMost electronic health record (EHR) vendors have a meaningful use "guarantee" -- but the fine print usually specifies that their EHR product has the capability to meet meaningful use and earn you incentive money, if you do your part. But athenahealth (the company name is deliberately lower case, for whatever reason) is trying to stand apart from the pack by offering a more substantive meaningful use guarantee.

DecisionHealth stock photoYou and your peers are likely to boost your health information technology (IT) spending this year, according to a May 2011 study by RNCOS Industry Research Solutions, a private market research company. Health IT spending is projected to hit $40 billion -- with a "B" -- in 2011, driven by massive growth in electronic health records (EHRs) and mobile health applications, the study claims.

You and your peers may be able avoid the 1% e-Prescribing (e-Rx) Medicare payment penalty if you qualify for one of CMS’s new proposed hardship exemptions outlined in its May 26 proposed rule. If finalized, the wil give providers a more flexible timeline and more options to claim a hardship exemption for not being able to meet the e-Rx requirement by June 30. 

Image from cms.govCMS is preparing to send out the first-ever batch of incentive checks earned by providers who met meaningful use under the Medicare Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive program. Supposedly, the first payments will go out by the end of this week, which effectively means later today or tomorrow.

CMS released a new batch of FAQs Friday regarding Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs, which could make your switch to EHR seem less ominous. Some of CMS' responses include clarification on what a "reasonable cost" is under the new program, determining how hospital-based status is determined for eligible professionals, discussing whether large practices will be able to register all eligible professionals at once and more.

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