Update on Electronic Health Records Demonstration Project - PLEASE READ!!
Dear Louisiana Provider,
Do you need financial assistance to help in the adoption and implementation of an Electronic Health Record? Up to $290,000 may ultimately be available to you and your practice over the next five years to help transform your practice into the future of health care.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has chosen Louisiana as one of the first four applicants to implement an Electronic Health Records (EHR) Demonstration Project. About the EHR Demonstration:
- Five-year program for approximately 200 eligible physician practices beginning June 1, 2009.
- Eligible physician practices
- 20 or fewer providers, including solo practitioners
- The main provider of primary care for at least 50 Medicare fee-for service beneficiaries (per practice)
- Medical sub-specialists who also provide the primary care as specified
- Pediatricians and obstetricians/gynecologists are not eligible
- Random assignment of practices
- Half of the 200 practices will be required to implement a CCHIT certified EHR and will receive retrospective payments for reporting performance information on quality measures related to diabetes mellitus, congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, and provision of preventive care services.
- The other 100 practices will not be held to the CMS EHR or reporting requirements and will not receive financial payment.
- All practices will have access to technical support from Louisiana Health Care Quality Forum advisors and experts including assistance in applying for the demonstration itself and help in achieving a smooth transition to EHR use and quality reporting among those providers selected.
The application, summary, and fact sheet with details about the EHR Demonstration are also available on the Louisiana Health Care Quality Forum’s website, www.lhcqf.org. The application is due no later than November 26, 2008 and should be submitted to the following address:
EHR Demonstration
c/o Actuarial Research Corporation, Suite 510
5950 Symphony Woods Road
Columbia, MD 21044
We encourage you to review the material, which answers many questions you may have. The Louisiana Health Care Quality Forum and its stakeholders across the state are committed to supporting your success throughout the life of this demonstration. We believe tracking quality measures using electronic health records promises to move Louisiana forward as a leader in improved health outcomes for our citizens.
If you have any questions about the Demonstration itself, please contact:
Will J. Jackson III, M.H.A.
Project Manager
Louisiana Health Care Quality Forum
225-936-9320 cell
225-334-9299 office
