This document provides an overview of meaningful use and the Medicare and Medicaid EHR incentive programs. It defines meaningful use as the use of certified electronic health records (EHRs) to improve quality, exchange health information, and submit clinical quality measures. Hospitals and eligible professionals can receive incentive payments up to $44,000 and $63,750 respectively for meeting meaningful use criteria through 2021. The document outlines provider and hospital eligibility requirements and highlights benefits such as clinical decision support, e-prescribing, and error reduction.

1. YOUR GUIDE TO MEANINGFUL USE

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3. MEANINGFUL USE: A
HISTORY
The Medicare and Medicaid EHR (Electronic Health Records) incentive
programs provide a credit of up to $44,000 and $63,750 respectively for the
“meaningful use” of certified EHR technology to “achieve health and efficiency
goals.”
However, it must be noted that the monetary value of these incentives decreases
over time. In addition, your practice must meet all of the Stage 1 Meaningful Use
criteria to eligible for the full $44,000 or $63,750 credit.

4. WHAT IS MEANINGFUL USE?
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 stipulates three main
components of Stage 1 Meaningful Use criteria for healthcare providers
participating in the Medicare and Medicaid EHR incentive plans:
1. “The use of a certified HER in meaningful manner, such as e-prescribing.
2. The use of EHR technology for the electronic exchange of health information
to improve the quality of healthcare.
3. The use of certified EHR technology to submit clinical quality and other
measures.”

5. WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF THE MEANINGFUL USE
PROGRAM?
Beyond the aforementioned financial benefits of participating in the Medicare
and/or Medicaid EHR Incentive Program(s), there are many other advantages of
following Meaningful Use criteria including:
Reduction of errors in electronic patient records.
 Instant availability of patient records and related data.
 Ability to set reminders and alerts within your EHR system.
 Clinical Decision Support
 E-prescribing and refill automation
 Electronic patient referral
 And more…

6. WHO QUALIFIES FOR MEANINGFUL USE INCENTIVES?
Under the Medicare EHR Incentive Program:
-Doctors of medicine or osteopathy (MD, DO)
- Doctors of dental surgery or dental medicine (DDS, DMD)
- Doctors of podiatry
- Doctors of optometry
- Chiropractors
Under the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program:
-Physicians (primarily doctors of medicine and doctors of osteopathy)
- Nurse practitioners
- Certified nurse-midwives
- Dentists
-Physician Assistants who furnish services in a federally qualified health center
or rural health clinic that is led by a physician assistant.

7. WHICH HOSPITALS QUALIFY FOR MEANINGFUL USE
INCENTIVES?
Some hospitals may receive incentive payments from both Medicare and
Medicaid if they meet all eligibility criteria.
What is an eligible hospital under the Medicare EHR incentive program?
“Subsection (d) hospitals” in the 50 states or D.C. that are paid under the
Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS).
 Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs)
 Medicare Advantage (MA-Affiliated) Hospitals
What is an eligible hospital under the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program?
Acute Care Hospitals (including CAHs and cancer hospitals with at least 10%
Medicaid patient volume.
 Children’s hospitals (no Medicaid patient volume requirements).

8. FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Visit the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services website for more
information regarding their EHR Incentive programs:
https://www.cms.gov/EHRIncentivePrograms