Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about M-CEITA, EHRs, and Meaningful Use. If you do not find your question answered here, please contact us.
What is an electronic health record (EHR)?
An EHR is a software-based service that allows providers to record and access patient medical information in a digital format.
Why do practices need an EHR?
There are many advantages to EHR adoption, including cost reduction, increased practice efficiency, refocused operating costs, improved quality of care, increased patient safety, and promotion of evidence-based medicine. Learn more about the benefits of EHR here; see also the AHRQ report on the costs and benefits of EHRs.
How can EHRs improve patient safety?
EHR systems can help reduce medical errors by providing healthcare workers with decision support. Computerized Physician Order Entry (CPOE) can warn physicians about potential drug interactions.
What is a Regional Extension Center?
Regional Extension Centers (RECs) are government programs funded by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT to “support and serve health care providers to help them quickly become adept and meaningful users of electronic health records.” Learn more about them here.
Who is eligible for M-CEITA subsidized services?
MDs, DOs, NPs, CNMs & PAs who practice family, general internal or pediatric medicine or obstetrics and gynecology in one of the following settings:
- Individual and small group (<10) primary care practices
- Public and Critical Access Hospitals
- Community Health Centers and Rural Health Clinics
- Settings serving uninsured, underinsured, and medically underserved populations
What if I’m not in this group?
We offer a range of services to providers in Michigan. Meaningful Use for Specialists are available to support specialists’ effective adoption of health information technology (HIT) and the process to obtain incentive dollars by achieving meaningful use. Meaningful Use Monitoring and Support is available to providers who have achieved Meaningful Use Stage 1.
How much do M-CEITA services cost?
Our standard price for subsidized services for primary care providers is $500 per provider with additional fees for practices of more than 10 providers. Contact us for pricing of specialist and other service offerings.
What is Meaningful Use?
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 established programs under the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to provide incentive payments for the “meaningful use” of certified electronic health records (EHR) technology. The incentive payments are not direct reimbursement for the purchase and acquisition of such technology, but rather are intended to serve as incentives for eligible providers and hospitals to adopt and meaningfully use certified EHR technology. The second stage of criteria to demonstrate meaningful use was announced in August 2012.