Description

2. Describe the timeline and the potential financial impact to the individual healthcare providers who are involved in Meaningful Use of the program.

‘Meaningful Use is an EHR incentive program available to Medicare and Medicaid providers and started by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The incentive program is a 3-stage program that started in 2011 with stage 1 and was planned out for stage 3 happening in 2016 with implementation of the EHR. Providers must decide if they will apply for Medicare or Medicaid incentives. According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (2013), providers must attest annually to meeting the Meaningful Use criteria. Eligible Providers that demonstrate Meaningful Use of certified EHR technology will receive up to $44,000 from Medicare over 5 years. Medicaid incentives have a higher maximum and distribute over 6 years of time”.