How can providers ensure that they will meet all the requirements for EHR reimbursement under the ARRA?  The final rules were released 10 days ago, and qualified EMR Software Providers along with Practice Partner will attempt to go over the changes that were made from the original rules.

Practice Partner, an Electronic Medical Record Software program is in good shape to be certified as an EHR that provides all of the tools for meaningful use.

1.  For Medicare, midlevels like PA’s and Nurse Practitioners do not qualify as providers.  For Medicaid, they do.

2.  For 2010 to get your money from Medicare, all you will have to do is attest that you meet the requirements!  That’s it, no reports to submit, no electronic medical records to submit, nada.

3.  For Medicare, there is no requirements that x% of your patients be Medicare.  You only have to be a participating provider.  The way the law is written, your reimbursement is capped at 80% of your total allowable charges submitted to Medicare.  So, since the 1st year is $18,000, once you have submitted $25K of allowable charges per provider, you will get your full amount for the year.

Practice Partner Medical Records, an EMR, will allow you to quickly determine how many patients you have enrolled in Medicare and Medicaid.For Medicaid, you have to have a patient population of >30%, and if you are a pediatrician it has to be >20% to qualify.