DEPARTMENT: Health
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Vincent R. Nathan, MD, MPH
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City Wide
SUBJECT:
Ordinance authorizing the submission of an application to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to receive Meaningful Use funds for adopting, implementing or upgrading to an Electronic Health Record (EHR) and authorizing the acceptance of such funds in an amount up to $42,500.00.
SUMMARY:
This Ordinance authorizes Metro Health to submit an application to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to receive Meaningful Use funds for adopting, implementing or upgrading to an Electronic Health Record (EHR). The incentive amount for doing so, as provided by the CMS, will provide reimbursement of $21,250 per Metro Heath healthcare provider that attests for a total amount of up to $42,500 in 2016. This ordinance also authorizes the acceptance of such funds. Accepted funds will reimburse the cost of implementing and adopting the EHR and allow Metro Health the ability to provide much needed training and support for clinics utilizing the EHR system.
To attest to meeting the Meaningful Use metrics of adopting, implementing, or upgrading to an EHR, Metro Health must complete the following:
1. Register or ensure possession of a National Provider Identifier (NPI) for each provider.
2. Gather each provider’s NPI, Tax Identification Number (TIN), the CMS Electronic Health Records (EHR) Certification Number and documentation for proof of purchase of EHR technology to prepare for registration with CMS.
3. Register at CMS’s EHR Incentive Program registration site and assign payment to Metro Health.
4. Enroll/confirm enrollment in Texas Medicaid to ensure an active Texas Medicaid Provider Identification Number (TPI).
5. Set up/confirm Texas Medicaid & Healthcare Partnership (TMHP) account, log-in ID, and Pin number.
6. Calculate the patient volumes for provider group.
7. Log in to TMHP accounts and input the gathered information attest to the first year of meeting Meaningful Use.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) (Pub.L. 111-5) was enacted on February 17, 2009. Title IV of Division B of ARRA amends Titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act (the Act) by establishing incentive payments to eligible professionals (EPs), eligible hospitals, and critical access hospitals (CAHs), and Medicare Advantage Organizations to promote the adoption and meaningful use of interoperable health information technology (HIT) and qualified electronic health records (EHRs). These incentive payments are part of a broader effort under the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act to accelerate the adoption of HIT and utilization of qualified EHRs.
The Stage 1 final rule set the foundation for the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs by establishing requirements for the electronic capture of clinical data, including providing patients with electronic copies of health information. The Stage 2 final rule expanded upon the Stage 1 criteria with a focus on ensuring that the meaningful use of EHRs supported the aims and priorities of the National Quality Strategy. Stage 2 criteria encouraged the use of health IT for continuous quality improvement at the point of care and the exchange of information in the most structured format possible.
Attesting to Meaningful Use is a process that occurs over the course of six years. For the first year of attestation, 2016, Metro Health will attest to adopting, implementing or upgrading to an Electronic Health Record (EHR). The incentive amount for doing so will provide reimbursement of $21,250.00 per Metro Health healthcare provider that attests. Meaningful Use Incentive Payments will reimburse the cost of implementing and adopting the EHR and allow Metro Health the ability to provide much needed training and support for clinics utilizing the EHR system.
ISSUE:
Approval to attest to Meaningful Use enables the Metro Health to be able to receive incentive payments for the implementation of the EHR systems. Incentive payment funds will reimburse the cost of implementing and adopting the EHR and allow Metro Health the ability to provide much needed training and support for clinics utilizing the EHR system. Meaningful Use will additionally enable Metro Health to become eligible for potential funding for additional system updates and training which will in turn help to better serve the San Antonio population with necessary health care services.
ALTERNATIVES:
If approval to apply for Meaningful Use and authorization for the acceptance of such funds is not obtained, Metro Health will be unable to receive incentive payments for the implementation of the EHR systems. Metro Health will lose potential funding for additional system updates and training which will hinder the ability to better serve the San Antonio population with necessary health care services.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The incentive amount, as provided by the CMS, is $21,250.00 per Metro Heath healthcare provider for a total amount of up to $42,500 in 2016. The time frame to attest begins January 1, 2016 and ends February 28, 2016. Failure to attest within this timeframe will result in the loss of opportunity for the full incentive amount over the course of the six (6) years and the inability to attest to Meaningful Use for the year January 1, 2016 through December 31, 2016.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of the Ordinance authorizing the submission of the application for Meaningful Use Attestation and acceptance of funds in 2016 for adopting, implementing or upgrading to an Electronic Health Record (EHR).