The CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) announced that additional federal matching funds will be given to four states (NJ, LA, MN, &MD) to help implement the electronic health record incentive program. This incentive program was established by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, and is very important in developing a strong U.S. health information infrastructure.
Electronic Health Records make it easier for care providers to coordinate care, especially for Medicaid and Medicare patients. All patients benefit from being able to access vital information so they can make informed decisions about the healthcare options available to them. All of this together will make the system, and the healthcare that is provided, much more efficient.
We have been a strong champion of making the change to electronic medical records, and we're glad that the government is making the transition more appealing to those still using paper records. There have been so many advancements in the medical industry that have amazed us over the years. But the day to day way of managing a practice or tracking patients tends to be stuck decades in the past. We are now 10 years into a new century, and we all need to embrace better ways of doing business.
