Tri-State REC: How Clinicians Can Qualify for Meaningful Use & Federal Incentives

1. Tri-State REC: How Clinicians Can Qualify for Meaningful Use & Federal Incentives David Groves, Executive Director April Smith, Project Manager Tri-State Regional Extension Center

2. Meaningful Use Basics What do you need to know to get paid?

3. ARRA & HITECH Acts • On Feb. 17, 2009, President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). • The health IT provisions of the Recovery Act together are known as the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act or HITECH Act.  • HITECH Act authorizes creation of a number of new programs and roughly $40 Billion in new spending. • The US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the States were tasked with promoting the “meaningful use” of health information technology through the use of incentives. REC support is provided under cooperative agreement 90RC0025/01 from the Office of the National Coordinator for HIT, US Dept. of Health and Human Services.

4. Meaningful Use – Who is eligible for incentives? REC support is provided under cooperative agreement 90RC0025/01 from the Office of the National Coordinator for HIT, US Dept. of Health and Human Services .

5. Funding is available... REC support is provided under cooperative agreement 90RC0025/01 from the Office of the National Coordinator for HIT, US Dept. of Health and Human Services .

6. Medicaid funding higher REC support is provided under cooperative agreement 90RC0025/01 from the Office of the National Coordinator for HIT, US Dept. of Health and Human Services .

7. Medicaid MU Thresholds REC support is provided under cooperative agreement 90RC0025/01 from the Office of the National Coordinator for HIT, US Dept. of Health and Human Services .

8. Meaningful use is complex To receive incentives, for example, practices have to use technology for: • Medication and allergy lists • E-Prescribing • Access to electronic lab results • Electronic orders • Electronic claims submission • Checking insurance eligibility • Clinical summary to other providers and patients • Clinical decision support • Health information exchange • Quality reporting to the federal government • Among others… REC support is provided under cooperative agreement 90RC0025/01 from the Office of the National Coordinator for HIT, US Dept. of Health and Human Services .

9. The Challenges • Government regulations are complex. • Final Rule on “Meaningful Use” expected from HHS by June 30, 2010 • As many as 30% of all EHR implementations fail. • EHR Selection can be time consuming and risky • EHR adoption will impact workflow • EHR use will bring new challenges with regard to security and privacy of patient records • EHR Implementation alone is not enough

10. Tri-State Regional Extension Center An Overview REC support is provided under cooperative agreement 90RC0025/01 from the Office of the National Coordinator for HIT, US Dept. of Health and Human Services .

11. There is help Tri-State Regional Extension Center (REC) WHAT IS IT? • New federally-funded collaboration led by HealthBridge • GOAL: Help eligible professionals • implement technology • achieve meaningful use and • qualify for incentives REC support is provided under cooperative agreement 90RC0025/01 from the Office of the National Coordinator for HIT, US Dept. of Health and Human Services .

12. Tri-State REC Service Area

13. Tri-State REC Partners NEKY RHIO

14. HealthBridge Tri-State Regional Extension Center (REC) WHAT SERVICES WILL THE TRI-STATE REC OFFER? • Basic Resources on Technology and Meaningful Use • Group Purchased EHRs and Technology Solutions • On-Site Consulting • Quality Reporting Support WHAT REC DOLLARS CANNOT DO: • Pay for an EHR, hardware or other software REC support is provided under cooperative agreement 90RC0025/01 from the Office of the National Coordinator for HIT, US Dept. of Health and Human Services .

15. HealthBridge Tri-State Regional Extension Center (REC) WHO WILL IT HELP? • Priority Primary Care Practitioners (PPCP) • Primary Care = FPs, OB/Gyn, Peds, Int. Med • Additional focus on: • Small practices (<10 prescribers; physicians, PAs, ARNPs) • Community health centers • Rural clinicians and those with critical access hospitals • Practices and clinics that serve the underserved. REC support is provided under cooperative agreement 90RC0025/01 from the Office of the National Coordinator for HIT, US Dept. of Health and Human Services .

16. Time is money. Timeline for maximum payment: • Stage I applications will be accepted between Jan. 2011 and Dec. 2012 • Implementing an EHR takes ~ 12 mos. • If you haven’t started planning for an EHR, now is the time to start. • If you have an EHR, you will need to make sure it is certified and can meet meaningful use requirements. These things simply take time. REC support is provided under cooperative agreement 90RC0025/01 from the Office of the National Coordinator for HIT, US Dept. of Health and Human Services .

17. How will the REC help? • Maximize funding available to you • Speed adoption timeline • Avoid common mistakes • Help manage your vendor’s work • Prepare a roadmap for achieving meaningful use and help your practice get there REC support is provided under cooperative agreement 90RC0025/01 from the Office of the National Coordinator for HIT, US Dept. of Health and Human Services .

18. Why Work with the Tri-State REC? Bottom line: REC will help practices • maximize funding • minimize expenses and • improve quality and efficiency of the practice REC support is provided under cooperative agreement 90RC0025/01 from the Office of the National Coordinator for HIT, US Dept. of Health and Human Services .

19. First Step: Sign the Provider Agreement What’s in it? In Binder under REC Info Tab: • Basic Agreement (Pgs 1-2) • Exhibit A: Basic outline of roles & responsibilities • Exhibit B: Overview of Meaningful Use Proposed Rules • Exhibit C: Practice and Location Data (feds require REC to collect this information) • Exhibit D: Tri-State REC Contacts Assigned to Practice • Exhibit E: Fee Schedule **Feds only supply 90% of costs; REC required to generate revenue • Exhibit F: Business Associate Agreement REC support is provided under cooperative agreement 90RC0025/01 from the Office of the National Coordinator for HIT, US Dept. of Health and Human Services .

20. Fee Schedule REC support is provided under cooperative agreement 90RC0025/01 from the Office of the National Coordinator for HIT, US Dept. of Health and Human Services .

21. Second Step: Planning • Tri-State REC staff will perform • MU Gap Analysis or • Readiness Assessment • If you already have an EHR, then Tri-State REC staff will perform an independent assessment of whether it meets meaningful use criteria. • If you don’t have an EHR, Tri-State REC staff will perform an EHR readiness assessment • Then Tri-State REC staff will help you develop and execute a plan to get to meaningful use. REC support is provided under cooperative agreement 90RC0025/01 from the Office of the National Coordinator for HIT, US Dept. of Health and Human Services .

22. Third Step: Vendor Selection/Modification • REC staff will assist practice with looking at options, selecting vendor and providing best practices in vendor contracting. • Group Purchased EHR Available through REC • Other options: • Health System Stark-Safe Harbor EHR offerings • OSIS • Purchase independently • Also support practice in selection of hardware, IT support, and other elements needed REC support is provided under cooperative agreement 90RC0025/01 from the Office of the National Coordinator for HIT, US Dept. of Health and Human Services .

23. Fourth Step: Implementation • Assist with identifying health information exchange requirements under meaningful use • Provide options for how to meet HIE requirements • Workflow, Change Management Assistance • Vendor – Project Management • Provide recommendations and assistance with quality reporting, e-prescribing and other meaningful use requirements • For select practices, assist with intensive quality improvement and enhanced work flow redesign REC support is provided under cooperative agreement 90RC0025/01 from the Office of the National Coordinator for HIT, US Dept. of Health and Human Services .

24. Fifth Step: Qualifying • Advise practices in how to maximize their incentive funding • Assist with completing application process for meaningful use incentive payments REC support is provided under cooperative agreement 90RC0025/01 from the Office of the National Coordinator for HIT, US Dept. of Health and Human Services .

25. Next Steps • Review and sign provider agreement and return to HealthBridge to initiate work REC. • Fees are waived through June 30th for eligible practices. • Contact us via phone, email or online if you have additional questions. Tri-State REC Information Phone: 513-469-7222, option 3 Email: rec@healthbridge.org Online: www.healthbridge.org REC support is provided under cooperative agreement 90RC0025/01 from the Office of the National Coordinator for HIT, US Dept. of Health and Human Services .