How can EHR systems improve results on Pay for Performance Programs?
The built-in reporting capabilities of EHR systems enhance the ability of practices to respond to the requirements of Pay for Performance (P4P) programs and potentially maximize P4P payments. The Medical News Today newsletter dated 12/14/06 reported that Congress approved a bill (HR6408) that would maintain the current level of Medicare reimbursements to physicians for 2007 and provide a 1.5% increase in reimbursements to physicians who agree to report data on certain Quality-of Care measures. Under the bill, beginning July 1, 2007, physicians would qualify for a 1.5% bonus if they report to the government certain data on the quality of their care, such as how often they prescribe certain medications to heart attack patients or how well they manage blood pressure in patients with diabetes. Medicare officials say the data will allow the government in the near future to reward doctors who follow clinical guidelines and perhaps penalize those who flout such standards without justification
