Over the next six years, doctors, hospitals, and other clinicians who treat patients on Medicare and Medicaid can earn extra payments from the government if they adopt and make “meaningful use” of electronic health records (EHRs). But to be eligible, the electronic record systems adopted must conform to and be certified as meeting strict technical software standards.
Recently, the US Department of Health and Human Services issued its first set of these standards, which are designed to ensure that the systems are secure and reliable. A new policy brief from Health Affairs and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation examines electronic health record standards, part of a series of efforts to get doctors and hospitals across the country to adopt EHRs by 2014.
The authors conclude that even with the regulations in place and the incentive payments pending, the technological platform to facilitate the sharing of electronic medical records is still being built. In 2010, HHS has so far awarded $548 million to states and territories to develop state health information exchanges that will link health care providers within their boundaries.
Health Affairs/RWJF Health Policy Brief Series
- 1 Medicare Payments to Physicians
- 2 Premium Support in Medicare
- 3 Public Reporting on Quality and Costs
- 4 The Prevention and Public Health Fund
- 5 Small Business Insurance Exchanges
- 6 Next Steps for ACOs
- 7 Medicaid Reform
- 8 The Independent Payment Advisory Board
- 9 Legal Challenges to Health Reform
- 10 Community Development and Health
- 11 Achieving Equity in Health
- 12 Putting Limits on 'Medigap'
- 13 The CLASS Act
- 14 Improving Quality and Safety
- 15 'Unreasonable' Insurance Rate Increases
- 16 Employers and Health Care Reform
- 17 Congress and the Affordable Care Act
- 18 The 1099 Provision
- 19 Enrolling More Kids in Medicaid and CHIP
- 20 Small Business Tax Credits
- 21 Preventive Services Without Cost Sharing
- 22 Early Retiree Insurance
- 23 Medical Loss Ratios
- 24 'Grandfathered' Health Plans
- 25 Electronic Health Record Standards
- 26 Comparative Effectiveness Research
- 27 Patient-Centered Medical Homes
- 28 "Meaningful Use" of Electronic Health Records
- 29 Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan
- 30 Accountable Care Organizations
- 31 Extra Federal Medicaid Support Ends
- 32 Paying Physicians For Medicare Services
- 33 Health Reform's Changes in Medicare
- 34 Near-Term Changes in Health Insurance
- 35 Employer Mandate
- 36 Individual Mandate
- 37 Public Health Insurance Plan
- 38 Health Insurance Reforms
- 39 Individual Responsibility
- 40 Key Issues in Health Reform
- 41 Shared Responsibility
- 42 Coverage for Low-Income People
- 43 Tax Debate
- 44 A Public Health Insurance Plan
- 45 Competitive Bidding in Medicare Advantage
- 46 Medicare Advantage Plans
Health Affairs/RWJF Health Policy Briefs
Series provides clear, accessible overviews of timely and important health policy topics. The briefs are geared to policy-makers, congressional staffers, and others who need short, jargon-free explanations of health policy basics.
About the series View allMORE IN Health Affairs/RWJF Health Policy Briefs
Essential Health BenefitsMay 2, 2013 |
Per Capita Caps in MedicaidApril 18, 2013 |
The Multi-State Plan ProgramApril 3, 2013 |
The CO-OP Health Insurance ProgramMarch 11, 2013 |