States have begun issuing EHR MEANINGFUL USE incentive payments. Are YOU ready?

Less than 3 days after the registration process began on January 3, 2011, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has already sent the first two Medicaid incentive payments! Talk about efficiency, especially from the government!

For those wondering the recipients of the first set of incentive checks were:

 -      University of Kentucky‘s teaching hospital, University of Kentucky Healthcare which received its first payment of $2.86 million (which is a third of what it expects to receive over the life of the program

-      Gastorf Family Clinic based in Durant, OK was the first practice to receive its incentive payments. 2 providers received their first check of $21,250 each! 

The initial payments were made for those in the following 11 states: 

·  Alaska

·  Iowa

·  Kentucky

·  Louisiana

·  Oklahoma

·  Michigan

·  Mississippi

·  North Carolina

·  South Carolina

·  Tennessee

·  Texas

Registration is scheduled to open in February 2011 for the following states:

·  California

·  Missouri

·  North Dakota

 What surprised me was the speed at which at reimbursement payments have begun to be sent out. From experience working or dealing with government bodies, the amount of red tape makes me understand why some would just avoid the process altogether.

BUT, for those of you who have been sitting on the sidelines wondering if this incentive program is real or are dubious of when they will receive their payments, this is proof that the government is serious about the program and that it is here to stay.

Check back with this blog as we will keep updating the list as more states begin opening their registration processes.!