Achieving meaningful use of health information technology: a guide for physicians to the EHR incentive programs

Abstract

Over 30,000 clinicians have already qualified to receive initial incentive payments for the meaningful use of electronic health records (EHRs) through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) EHR Incentive Programs. However, 2012 is the final year to receive maximum incentive payments, and many physicians still have questions regarding meaningful use objectives and how to register for, report, and attest to meaningful use. We provide herein an overview of the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs and guide physicians in the process of how to demonstrate meaningful use of health information technology.