DrChrono Blog

Many doctors can become bewildered by the onslaught of new information coming at them regarding meeting meaningful use criteria. They just want the cash, and they want it to be simple and straightforward and move on with their busy practices. As a doctor myself, I can completely relate. The first step in the process, of course, is to answer the question “Am I an eligible professional?”

The incentives for meaningfully using EHR technology is based on individual providers. This means that if you are part of a practice with more than one provider, each eligible professional (EP) within that practice may qualify for their own individual incentive. Each EP can get only one payment annually, regardless of how many places they work at.

A Medicare EP under the EHR incentive program must be one of the following:

• Doctor of Medicine or Osteopathy
• Doctor of Dental Surgery or Dental Medicine
• Doctor of Podiatric Medicine
• Doctor of Optometry
• Chiropractor

**Of note, Medicare EP’s may not be hospital-based. They are considered hospital-based if 90% or more of their services are performed in the inpatient or ER hospital setting.

The Medicaid EHR incentive program includes one of the following types of practitioners:

• Physicians (Pediatricians have special eligibility and payment rules)
• Nurse Practitioners
• Certified Nurse Midwives
• Dentists
• Physician Assistants who provide services in a Federally Qualified Health Center or rural health clinic that is led by a physician assistant

**Of note, Medicaid EP’s must not be hospital-based. A Medicaid EP is considered to be hospital-based if 90% or more of their services are performed in the inpatient or ER hospital setting.

If you are eligible as an EP for both the Medicare and Medicaid EHR incentive programs, you must choose only one.

When talking about the Medicare Advantage program, incentive payments are made only to Medicare Advantage organizations that are licensed as HMO’s, by a state.   Medicare Advantage EP’s are individuals that are either employed by the Medicare Advantage organization, or employed by a partner of the Medicare Advantage program. The partner must furnish at least 80% of that entity’s Medicare patient care services to enrollees of the Medicare Advantage organization. In addition, these EP’s must furnish at least 80% of their Medicare-related services to enrollees of the Medicare Advantage organization. They must also furnish, on average, at least 20 hours per week of patient care services.

DrChrono.com has guaranteed that it will meet all meaningful use criteria and will be a certified vendor of EHR technology.

It is the purpose of DrChrono.com University to keep you up to date with the latest information revolving around Meaningful Use so that all clinicians who utilize DrChrono.com’s iPad EHR will smoothly transition to a better, brighter, and patient-centered EHR system that will notably enhance the lives of practitioners and patients alike. The information posted on this blog is applicable only to Eligible Professionals, not Eligible Hospitals or Critical Access Hospitals. Stay tuned for weekly to biweekly updates.