Meaningful Use & the HITECH Act Webinar
Chaired by Steve Rogers, Director of Product Management, Nuesoft Technologies, Inc.
Download Files:
- Meaingful Use slides (pdf)
Q&A from the Webinar Participants
Are psychologists eligible for the Medicaid Incentive Program?
Not at this time. MD is currently the key. This may change as H.R. 5040: Health Information Technology Extension for Behavioral Health Services Act of 2010 was introduced April 15, 2010 and appears to still be making its way through the House.
H.R. 5040 seeks to amend titles XVIII (Medicare) and XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to include qualified clinical psychologists, clinical social workers, psychiatric hospitals, mental health treatment facilities, and substance abuse treatment facilities within the health professionals, hospitals, and Medicaid providers eligible for incentive payments for the meaningful use of certified EHR technology.
I bill for a PsyD - Clinical Neuropsychologist are they a part of this eligible group?
Not at this time. MD is the key. See above about H.R. 5040.
Is it possible to get a copy of the presentation slides?
We will have a video containing the slides available on Monday, September 20.
When are the incentive payments going to be issued to providers?
The first Medicare incentive payments are expected to be distributed in May 2011 for those demonstrating Meaningful Use of certified EHR technology for a 90 day period prior to that in 2011. Medicaid is dependent on the individual State program.
What is the time period for calculating the encounter volume percentage for Medicaid eligibility?
The volume period needs to be any 90-day period in the preceding calendar year. The provider would also need to demonstrate adopt, implement, upgrade of certified EHR technology (AIU) in order to qualify for an incentive payment.
Does the "80% of all patients" rule actually refer to 80% of ALL patients, or just 80% of Medicare patients?
To meet certain objectives/measures, 80% of patients must have records in the certified EHR technology. Our understanding at this time is that this would apply as a percentage of all patient encounters. Note also the wording for those who see patients at more than one location - An Eligible Professional who works at multiple locations, but does not have certified EHR technology available at all of them would:
- Have to have 50% of their total patient encounters at locations where certified EHR technology is available.
- Would base all meaningful use measures only on encounters that occurred at locations where certified EHR technology is available.
I thought this webinar was going to have information about the Nuesoft EHR program. Where do I get this information?
Please visit our website.
Of the 75% of max payments from Medicare is that 75% of billed charges or 75% of payment allowables? Can you repeat the information regarding Medicare Part B and 75% of our claims for that year?
Medicare FFS Incentives: EPs who qualify are eligible for incentives based on an amount equal to 75% of their allowable Medicare Part B charges for covered professional services subject to the annual maximum limits specified in the Medicare Incentive Program. For example, a physician with a total of $15,000 in allowed Medicare Part B charges in 2011 is eligible for up to $11,250, while a physician with a total of $30,000 in allowed Medicare Part B charges in 2011 is eligible for the maximum amount of $18,000.
If we are using EHR now, are we eligible for payments?
No, as there is currently no certified EHR technology. Depending on whether you are registering for Medicare or Medicaid, and which state if Medicaid, you must be using certified EHR technology and the earliest start is January 2011.
Are Nurse Practitioners eligible with Medicare
Not at this time. The definition in the law regarding Medicare states that Eligible Professionals must be one of the following:
- Doctors of Medicine or Osteopathy
- Doctors of Dental Surgery or Dental Medicine
- Doctors of Podiatric Medicine
- Doctors of Optometry
- Chiropractors
I read that Medicare will only allow medical professionals to sign up for either EHR incentives or e-prescribing incentives is that true and how does the medical professional notify Medicare of which one they are choosing?
If the EP chooses to participate in the Medicare EHR Incentive Program, they cannot participate in the Medicare eRx Incentive Program simultaneously in the same program year. If you register and attest for the Medicare EHR incentive program, then you will no longer be able to participate in the e-Prescribing program. If the EP chooses to participate in the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program, they can participate in the Medicare eRx Incentive Program simultaneously.
Is there any situation where you could get monies from both Medicare and Medicaid?
Not both simultaneously for the EHR Incentive Programs. See above for an example where you could be participating in a different Medicare Incentive Program while participating in the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program.
Can you participate in both the PQRI and the HHS incentive programs?
Physicians can participate in the Physicians Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI) at the same time as the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs, as long as they meet eligibility requirements for both programs.
How does an eligible provider specifically show meaningful use via the 25 objective? Modifiers on electronic claims?
For 2011, EPs are required to demonstrate that they satisfy each of the proposed meaningful use objectives through a one-time attestation following the reporting period, which will also cover the identification of the certified EHR technology they are utilizing, and the results of their performance on all the measures associated with the objectives of meaningful use. Check with your certified EHR technology vendor for Meaningful Use reporting capabilities.
When should an EP register to receive incentive payment for 2011?
January 2011:
- Registration for the EHR Incentive Programs begins
- For Medicaid providers, States may launch their programs if they so choose
April 2011:
- Attestation for the Medicare EHR Incentive Program begins
May 2011:
- Medicare EHR incentive payments begin
