The latest post (Brent) seems to best reflect the feelings of the majority of my clients: private practice/clinics. While we all see the benefit of electronic health records for patients and practices, physicians need to consider carefully the CIRCUS of performers who hawk the loudest, all trying to get their hands on a piece of our pie. Just look at the number of companies popping up, offering their EMR/EHR product, a panacea promised to be tailored to your practice (right…), or the doomsday criers with the penalty scare tactics designed to panic you into compliance. Even my industry is plagued by TASP companies telling us we’re going to lose our businesses if we don’t buy their product and save our clients. (Sigh…)

Some of my clients have hired CHC (Certfied Health Care Compliance)personnel, handing the practice reins over, clinching their teeth, but taking their medicine – often with a bitter bottom line dollar-wise – in hopes of avoiding penalties that might bankrupt them. Some have spent exorbitantly, just to realize that compliance doesn’t require the many, many bells and whistles they’ve just purchased, nor do those bells and whistles add to the efficiency or efficacy of their practices. It’s a sad story I keep seeing repeated.

Physicians need to keep a wary eye, realizing that rushing into any quick cure could very well kill the patient (practice) if careful weighing of the pros and cons isn’t done. First, isolate what you do DO need to be compliant; it’s probably much less intrusive, less costly, and much less painful than you’ve been led to believe. Read the post above (thank you, Brent!) and consider taking a more personal pro-active position in terms of compliance, and certainly in terms of purchasing a system promising to streamline your office and put you in 100% compliance in a short, painless period of time. I haven’t heard of one painless transition yet, but I’ve heard and seen of many disruptive and finally abandoned attempts. Sales talk in the EHR/EMR sales industry seems to be geared to the “get them scared-sick, then offer a simple solution” worm on the end of the hook – and doctors are biting. That’s why the industry is booming and raising a huge litter of wolf pups whose aim is your monetary jugular.

Strong words, I know. But someone has said it more clearly: Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. (George Bernard Shaw.

Good luck to you all in doing the things that COUNT.

As far as I know, our Government has no money to fund this. A “golden carrot” that cannot be achieved.

These “officials” need to find another way. Medicare/Caid reimbursements have been static or decreasing over the years. So this incentive offers nothing new.

‘‘(3) HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.—The term ‘health care provider’
includes a hospital, skilled nursing facility, nursing
facility, home health entity or other long term care facility,
health care clinic, community mental health center (as defined
in section 1913(b)(1)), renal dialysis facility, blood center,
ambulatory surgical center described in section 1833(i) of the
Social Security Act, emergency medical services provider, Federally
qualified health center, group practice, a pharmacist, a
pharmacy, a laboratory, a physician (as defined in section
1861(r) of the Social Security Act), a practitioner (as described
in section 1842(b)(18)(C) of the Social Security Act), a provider
operated by, or under contract with, the Indian Health Service
or by an Indian tribe (as defined in the Indian Self-Determination
and Education Assistance Act), tribal organization, or
urban Indian organization (as defined in section 4 of the Indian
Health Care Improvement Act), a rural health clinic, a covered
entity under section 340B, an ambulatory surgical center
described in section 1833(i) of the Social Security Act, a therapist
(as defined in section 1848(k)(3)(B)(iii) of the Social Security
Act), and any other category of health care facility, entity,
practitioner, or clinician determined appropriate by the Secretary.

Section 1848(k)(3)(B)(iii) of the Social Security Act
(3) Covered professional services and eligible professionals defined.— For purposes of this subsection:
(A) Covered professional services.—The term “covered professional services” means services for which payment is made under, or is based on, the fee schedule established under this section and which are furnished by an eligible professional.
(B) Eligible professional.—The term “eligible professional” means any of the following:
(i) A physician.
(ii) A practitioner described in section 1842(b)(18)(C).
(iii) A physical or occupational therapist or a qualified speech-language pathologist.

THEN, THIS INFORMAITON HAS BEEN PUBLISHED –

What types of medical practices do not qualify for HITECH incentives?
The following types of practices do not qualify for incentives based on our current understanding of the program:

• Free clinics that don’t bill Medicare or Medicaid
• Physical therapists
• Hospital-based physicians such as pathologists, anesthesiologists or emergency physicians
• Acupuncturists and other holistic providers
• Any practice not eligible for Medicare or Medicaid payments

Take a look at our EMR Buyer’s Guide for help. We have quite a few EHR software products listed there. Feel free to e-mail me with any questions (chris@softwareadvice.com).