Meaningful Use

The Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs provide financial incentives for the meaningful use of certified EHR technology to improve patient care. To receive an EHR incentive payment, providers have to show that they are meaningfully using their EHRs by meeting thresholds for a number of objectives. The EHR Incentive Programs are phased in three stages with increasing requirements.

The Medicare and Medicaid EHR incentive program will provide incentive payments to eligible professionals (EP) that are meaningful users of certified EHRs. EPs who meet the eligibility requirements for both the Medicare and Medicaid incentive programs may participate in only one program and must designate the program in which they would like to participate. CMS proposes that, after the initial designation, EPs be allowed to change their program selection only once during payment years 2012 through 2014.

A Medicare EP is a doctor of medicine or osteopathy, a doctor of dental surgery or dental medicine, a doctor of podiatric medicine, a doctor of optometry, or a chiropractor, who is legally authorized to practice under state law. A qualifying EP is one who demonstrates meaningful use for the EHR reporting period.

​Stay informed and educated on the most current information on implementing the right EMR, Meaningful Use criteria, economic stimulus package, and government reimbursements by visiting The Official Web Site for the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Records (EHR) Incentive Programs and Register with CMS.
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