Subsidized EHRs still eligible for federal stimulus funds

If an area hospital has offered to help you purchase an electronic health record system, don't worry about missing out on the potential $44,000 incentive payment from the economic stimulus act. Even with financial assistance, you can still collect the full bonus if you are a "meaningful user" by January 1, 2011.

For example, Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago is helping 379 independent physicians at 103 practices in the Chicago area go paperless. Thanks to a relaxation of the Stark anti-referral law in 2006, Northwestern was able to sign a five-year agreement with the independent practices in which the hospital agreed to pay for 85 percent of the cost of EHR adoption, including up-front costs such as implementation and training, as well as assistance with the monthly fee.