The HITECH Act specifies that physicians can qualify for $44,000 or more in economic stimulus incentives for adopting an EHR. What exactly does this mean and how can your practice qualify? Here are just a few answers concerning HITECH Stimulus incentives:
Are HITECH incentives per physician or per office?
HITECH incentives are paid on a per provider basis. As such, a practice with two physicians could qualify for $88,000 in Medicare incentives. A practice with two physicians and a nurse practitioner could qualify for as much as $132,000.
What types of healthcare providers qualify for HITECH incentives?
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) lists the following types of providers as qualifying for incentives:
| Hospitals Skilled Nursing facilities Nursing facilities Home health entities Long term care facilities Health care clincs Community Mental Health centers Renal dialysis facilities Blood centers Ambulatory surgical centers Emergency medical service providers | Federall qualified health centers (FQHC) Group practices Pharmacists Laboratories Physicians (see below) Practitioners (see below) Indian Health Service providers Rural health clinics Therapists |
What types of physicians qualify for incentives?
The following types of practices can all qualify for $44,000 or more in HITECH stimulus incentives, according to the definitions of the Social Security Act, section 1861(r):
Doctor of Medicine or Osteopathy – M.D. or D.O.
Doctor of Dental Surgery or Medicine – D.D.S or D.D.M
Doctor of Podiatric Medicine – D.P.M.
Doctor of Optometry – O.D.
Chiropractor – D.C.
What types of medical practitioners are included in HITECH?
In addition to the list above, ARRA references “providers as defined in the Social Security Act, section 1842” as qualifying for HITECH incentives. This includes:
A physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse specialist
A certified registered nurse anesthetist
A certified nurse-midwife
A clinical social worker
A clinical psychologist
A registered dietitian or nutrition professional
Which geographic areas qualify for HITECH incentives?
ARRA specifies the following regions and territories as qualifying for HITECH incentives:
All 50 US states
The District of Columbia
Puerto Rico
The Virgin Islands
Guam
American Samoa
The Northern Mariana Islands
What types of medical practices do not qualify for HITECH incentives?
The following types of practices do not qualify for incentives based on our current understanding of the program:
Free clinics that don’t bill Medicare or Medicaid
Physical therapists
Hospital-based physicians such as pathologists, anesthesiologists or emergency physicians
Acupuncturists and other holistic providers
Any practice not eligible for Medicare or Medicaid payments
Solutions 