EHR incentive checks start going to meaningful users

More than 21,000 providers registered for the Medicare and Medicaid electronic health record (EHR) incentive programs in January, and four states reported initial Medicaid incentive payments totaling $20.4 million, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

Eleven states have Medicaid EHR incentive programs, and payments already have begun in four states. In January, Oklahoma and Kentucky issued incentives totaling $2.8 million. Oklahoma issued incentive payments to two physicians at the Gastorf Family Clinic of Durant, totaling $42,500 ($21,250 each).

Medicare providers must register at the CMS EHR incentive Web site prior to attestation. They will be able to attest to meaningful use in mid- to late April, and Medicare bonus payments are scheduled to begin in May, according to CMS.