The Role of Health Information Technology In Improving Quality and Safety In RI: Can New Money Solve Old Problems?

摘要

On February 17, 2009, President Obamasigned into law the $787 billion AmericanRecovery and Reinvestment Act(ARRA) of 2009. This legislation allocatesapproximately $34 billion dollars instimulus money for health informationtechnology (IT), the bulk of which willgo to physicians and hospitals. Physicianswho are “meaningful users” of electronicmedical records (EHRs) by at least 2012are eligible to receive incentive paymentsfrom either Medicare or Medicaid (notboth). The Medicare incentive providesup to $44,000 each. If at least 30% of aphysician’s practice are Medicaid patients,the physician may opt for incentives fromMedicaid instead, which will total$63,750 each. But the window of opportunityshuts relatively quickly soon after.Physicians who miss the deadline andaren’t ready to start cashing in by 2012will see the dollars slip away year by year,beginning with an initial reduction in theincentive of at least $18,000. Those whoare not ready until after 2014 will not beeligible for an incentive payment. After2016, the government will provide nofurther incentive payments. It’s clear thepresident believes in the value of healthinformation technology to improve thequality, safety, and value of health care. Butdo we in Rhode Island also believe inhealth IT; and if so, how well are we positionedto secure the federal funding forimplementing it?