The Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services is giving new motivation to doctors by stating that penalties for not using EHRs in future years could be more severe than many think.
The government will start to penalize doctor’s Medicare payments by 1% if they are not part of the EHR movement by 2015. Those penalties could grow 1% a year through 2018 and continue into the future if too few doctors qualify for electronic health records, the CMS said in recent statements.
This much is clear: The government is serious about electronic health records. The track record is set – early adopting doctors who qualify for meaningful use will be rewarded with thousands in cash. Doctors who wait will lose incentive money and soon face payment penalties if they don’t join the movement.
Avoid the hassle; make your EHR choice this year.
