The HITECH Act specifies that physicians can qualify for $44,000 or more in economic stimulus incentives for adopting an EHR. What does this exactly mean? Does your practice qualify? Here are a few answers concerning HITECH incentives from Practice Fusion:

• Are HITECH incentives per physician or per office?

HITECH incentives are paid on a per provider basis. For example, a practice with two physicians and a nurse practitioner using an EHR could qualify for $132,000 in Medicare incentives.

• What types of health care providers can qualify for HITECH incentives?

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA – start on page 114) details that the following all qualify for HITECH incentives:

• What types of physicians qualify for HITECH incentives?

The following types of practices can all qualify for $44,000 or more in HITECH stimulus incentives according to the definitions in the Social Security Act, section 1861(r):

1. Doctor of Medicine or Osteopathy – M.D. or D.O.
2. Doctor of Dental Surgery or Medicine – D.D.S or D.D.M
3. Doctor of Podiatric Medicine – D.P.M.
4. Doctor of Optometry – O.D.
5. 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:

1. A physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse specialist
2. A certified registered nurse anesthetist
3. A certified nurse-midwife
4. A clinical social worker
5. A clinical psychologist
6. 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:

1. All 50 US states
2. The District of Columbia
3. Puerto Rico
4. The Virgin Islands
5. Guam
6. American Samoa
7. 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:

1. Free clinics that don’t bill Medicare or Medicaid
2. Physical therapists
3. Hospital-based physicians such as pathologists, anesthesiologists or emergency physicians
4. Acupuncturists and other holistic providers
5. Any practice not eligible for Medicare or Medicaid payments