Federal Stimulus – Electronic Health Records and PMG

PMG Technology Solutions (PMG) is your single source for health information technology, products, and services. Since 1996, PMG invested in the creation of the PMG Elysium Santa Cruz Health Information Exchange to ensure providers and health care facilities could communicate electronically. With the infrastructure in place, the availability of federal funding provides an unprecedented opportunity to PMG providers to achieve a paperless office and offer better care to patients.

What is the HITECH Federal Stimulus?

On February 17, 2009 President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) which allocates money for the adoption and use of Electronic Health Records (EHR). The act sets aside 19 billion dollars for health care in the portion called the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) act.

How will the money flow?

For PMG providers, payments from the government will start flowing in 2011, based on meeting certain criteria in 2010.

Is government money available before 2011?

The HITECH act makes money available in the form of grants and loans to certain community health clinics; however, we do not believe PMG providers will be able to participate in the loans or grants program. PMG will examine government communications on this topic as they are released. Please refer to the PMG provider portal or contact PMG Technology Solutions for more information.

How much money will be available for PMG Providers?

The government estimates $42,000 to $64,000 per provider over the course of the program.

What do providers have to do to receive stimulus funds?

Providers must attest that they can demonstrate “meaningful use” of a certified electronic health record system.

What is the difference between an electronic medical records (EMR) and an electronic health record (EHR)?

Electronic Medical Records systems are focused on automating and supporting the operations and treatment of patients inside a practice. Electronic Health Records go a step further and demonstrate the ability to connect with other providers through a health information exchange that are involved in the patients care.

Does PMG offer a certified EHR?

PMG Technology Committee has standardized on 2 EHR offerings,

  • Elysium 9
  • McKesson Practice Partner 9.3.1

    How does the government define ‘meaningful use’ of a certified EHR?

    To meet the minimum requirements, providers must:

    • Record patient encounters in the EHR
    • Place orders electronically (Elysium Quest, for example)
    • Electronically prescribe using SureScripts
    • Exchange data electronically with other providers involved in the patient’s care
    • Output data for health improvement

      What is PMG doing to support the effort?

      Under direction from the PMG Board of Directors, PMG has negotiated pre-tested solutions that meet HITECH technical criteria. PMG is expanding its effort to implement and support EHR’s and to increase the number of PMG providers that access the Elysium Health Information Exchange.

      What is the first step?

      Arrange a time to see the PMG approved solutions in the PMG Technology Showcase at 5200 Soquel Suite 103 or come to an EHR event. PMG will be hosting EHR events every six to eight weeks. Information about each event will be posted to the PMG Portal.

      When is the best time to get started?

      Start the process NOW. It can take up to a year to fully implement an EHR and demonstrate ‘meaningful use’. Practices that have a 3rd party billing or scheduling vendor can take longer. Experts are predicting that there are not enough technical and implementation resources in the US to meet the expected demand which means that waiting could cause you to miss an annual payment from the government. Once missed, it cannot be made up.

      Describe the PMG Showcase?

      The PMG Showcase is your “office of the future” demonstrating a fully functional Electronic Health Information solution complete with Receptionist PC, Insurance Card Scanner, Electronic Signature Pad, Waiting Room Kiosk, Exam Room computer and Nurses Station computer. A number of furniture and technology mounting options are on display.

      Does PMG offer a “secure patient portal” or on-line visit solution?

      Yes, we have two. On display in the Showcase is the “Web View” solution which is fully integrated with Practice Partner. For providers who do not use Practice Partner, PMG has a group discount on Relay Health® which has been in use by a number of PMG providers for several years.

      Are PMG providers free to select a different EHR?

      PMG highly recommends CCHIT certified systems to maximize the provider’s ability to receive federal incentives. PMG recommends Practice Partner for PMG affiliated providers because only certified solutions will receive government funding and because other EHRs can be more expensive to connect to a health information exchange such as Elysium.

      Are there other considerations that should be taken into account when a provider selects a system other than Practice Partner?

      Yes. Although other EMR’s are available on the market, their ability to connect with the existing electronic infrastructure is not guaranteed. Implementing a non-select EMR requires labor and material costs required to build and test its integration with the community’s electronic environment. PMG’s board of directors is requiring all providers to store and exchange clinical data via Elysium. Practice Partner is fully integrated into the community’s complex data exchange infrastructure that is built and maintained by PMG.

      What assistance can a provider expect to receive from PMG if they do not select an approved EHR?

      PMG will review the provider’s contract with their vendor for their protection and to determine if the system can connect to Elysium. PMG can provide technical support, and hardware as specified by the EMR vendor. PMG can support your computer network on an on-going basis for a fee.

      If a provider selects an EMR that is not CCHIT certified, how will that affect their ability to receive federal funding and receive IT support services from PMG?

      The HITECH act does not make funds available for non-certified EMR’s. PMG does not make loans available for non-certified EMR’s and, the provider will be required to build and pay for both the software company charges as well as the PMG Elysium charges involved with building an interface to Elysium.

      Can the practices who have already implemented an EMR, and can demonstrate meaningful use and interface electronically to Elysium, participate in the PMG or government stimulus funding programs?

      Past investment in EMR systems are rewarded! If the EMR meets the criteria, the provider is eligible to receive the funds from both PMG and the federal government.

      What is the status of the Medicare eRx bonus program?

      That bonus is independent of the other programs and any eRx incentive is on top of the HITECH incentives. The Medicare eRx bonus went into effect January 1, 2009 and provides up to 2% of charges for the use of eRx. The bonus declines in coming years and turns into a penalty for non eRx providers. PMG recommends and supports the use of eRx and can assist providers with education and workflow management training at no charge from PMG.

      What about the Medicare PSRI bonus?

      That program is also independent and any bonuses eligible under that program are added to the HITEC incentive payment.