New Audits for EHR Incentive Recipients

Health care practitioners who receive Medicare or Medicaid electronic health records (EHR) incentives are subject to a new auditing program designed to ensure they have met the qualifications for the bonuses, according to the AOA Third Party Center. Read more.

ODs Warned Only 3 Months Left for EHR Incentives

Health care practitioners have just a few months to ensure they earn the maximum possible payments through the Medicare Electronic Health Records (EHR) Incentive Program, according to the AOA Health Information Technology (HIT) Subcommittee. In fact, they must act within the next 90 days, AOA HIT Subcommittee Chair Philip Gross, O.D., noted. Under the Medicare EHR Incentive Program, health care practitioners can earn up to a total of $44,000 ($48,400 in federally designated health professional shortage areas) over the six-year life of the program if they install EHR systems that are certified for use under the program and achieve compliance with the program’s EHR utilization criteria, known as “meaningful use” standards. Read more.

AAO Partners with Sophrona for Electronic Health Record Incentive

The American Academy of Ophthalmology and Sophrona Solutions have partnered to provide eye care practices with a  web-based, patient-communication portal. This initiative reportedly could help eye care practices meet the Meaningful Use criteria of the electronic health record incentive program of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2010, which rewards practices for using new medical record technology. One measure of meaningful use requires doctors to show that "more than 10 percent of patients are provided patient-specific education resources" electronically. This measure, while currently optional, could well become a core requirement in the next stage of the EHR incentive program. Read more.