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HITECH Act Frequently Asked Questions
If you missed our free, online panel discussion, "Stimulus Money: What Do I Need to Know?", on February 8, 2010, you can still watch the recording: Watch "Stimulus Money: What Do I Need to Know?" | HITECH Act Information (44 minutes). You can also read the answers to questions that participants asked our panelists on the Panel Discussion Q&A page.
For a list of Q&As from CMS on the EHR Incentive Program, go to http://questions.cms.hhs.gov/app/answers/list/p/21,26,1058. To subscribe to the CMS EHR Incentive Programs Listserv, go to https://service.govdelivery.com/service/subscribe.html?code=USCMS_627.
General HITECH Act FAQs
- What is the HITECH Act? Updated January 5, 2012.
- How will the HITECH Act affect me? Updated June 11, 2009.
- Is there any financial incentive for complying with the HITECH Act? Updated June 11, 2009.
- How is "meaningful use" defined? Updated August 9, 2010.
- How does Medicare play into this? Updated January 5, 2012.
- How do I sign up for the Medicare/Medicaid EHR Incentive program? Updated January 5, 2012.
- Where can I find the EHR Certification Number? Updated November 3, 2011.
- How can I determine if I have met all of the objectives and their associated measures for meaningful use? Added January 5, 2012.
- How do I attest (report) meaningful use? Updated January 5, 2012.
- How do I get my incentive payments? Updated January 5, 2012.
- Who will pay me, Eyefinity? Updated April 29, 2011.
- Will Eyefinity help me get my stimulus money? Updated January 10, 2011..
- Are these incentives available on a per provider or on a per office basis? Updated June 11, 2009.
- Does meaningful use apply only to Medicare patients, or are non-Medicare patients included? Updated March 17, 2011
- Will the government verify with Eyefinity my use of the EHR? Updated January 5, 2012.
- What if I don't demonstrate meaningful use of an EHR after the incentives are in place? Updated June 11, 2009.
- What are the important dates in the EHR Incentive Program? Added January 5, 2012.
- Can I participate in the EHR Incentive Program along with the PQRS incentive program and ePrescribing incentive program at the same time? Added August 9, 2010.
- Will optometrists be penalized in 2011 for not using ePrescribing? Updated June 9, 2011
- Am I eligible to receive stimulus funds if I don't have a physical office? Updated August 9, 2010.
- Does the HITECH Act apply to our office if we do not accept Medicare/Medicaid? Added July 13, 2009.
- Can we collect incentive payments from both Medicare and Medicaid? Updated January 5, 2012.
- If our office begins to accept and actively bill Medicare within the next year, will we be eligible for the reimbursements? Updated August 9, 2010.
- How many Medicare patients do I have to see to qualify? Added January 5, 2012.
- Is the incentive payment based on Medicare payments received or the allowable fees I bill Medicare? Added March 17, 2011.
- What if I don't bill $24,000 or more to Medicare during the time that I am reporting meaningful use? Updated January 5, 2012.
- Will I receive my stimulus reimbursement money as a tax refund? Updated April 29, 2011.
- Do I get back just what I paid for the software? Added January 5, 2012.
- Will they pay for my computers? Updated August 9, 2010.
Eyefinity HITECH Act FAQs
- How do I sign up for the ExamWRITER ePrescribing Interface? Added November 2, 2010.
- What has Eyefinity done to prepare for the HITECH Act? Updated January 5, 2012.
- Which eyecare software products are certified today? Updated October 19, 2010.
- Can I qualify for incentive payments if I use OfficeMate practice management software only? Updated January 5, 2012.
- What if I am using OfficeMate and ExamWRITER now? Updated January 5, 2012.
- When will the certified version of OfficeMate/ExamWRITER be available? Updated January 5, 2012.
- Where can I learn more? Updated January 5, 2012.
- Who can I contact at Eyefinity for more information? Updated August 9, 2010.
Read on to learn about the impact the HITECH Act will have on your practice and what Eyefinity is doing to ensure that you can use our products to help you receive stimulus money.
Updated January 5, 2012.
The HITECH Act is the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act, and it appropriates approximately $19.2 billion in federal stimulus funds to accelerate the adoption of electronic health records (EHRs) and the interoperability of health information technology. The federal stimulus funds are to be disbursed through 2014.
How will the HITECH Act affect me?
Updated June 11, 2009.
Under the legislation, Medicare will provide incentive payments of up to $44,000 over five years for providers not based in hospitals who demonstrate "meaningful use" of certified EHR software starting in 2011.
It is important to note that 70% of the funding is distributed during the first two years (2011 and 2012), and incentive payments drop sharply after that. To receive the full financial benefit, don't delay your implementation of EHRs in your practice.
Is there any financial incentive for complying with the HITECH Act?
Updated June 11, 2009.
Yes! The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA, better known as the Economic Stimulus Package) was signed into law on February 17, 2009. It contains a health information technology component, dubbed the HITECH Act. The HITECH Act appropriates $19.2 billion dollars in federal stimulus funds to accelerate the adoption of electronic medical records and the interoperability of health information technology. Interoperability simply refers to the ability of systems to interact with each other to facilitate the electronic exchange of medical records.
How is "meaningful use" defined?
Updated August 9, 2010.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services defines "meaningful use" by the following criteria:
- Use of a certified EHR technology with ePrescribing capability
- Connectivity (interoperability) for the exchange of patients’ health information
- Compliance with clinical quality measure reporting (PQRS)
The Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) has a phased approach for defining meaningful use. The stage 1 final rule for specifications and criteria was published in July 2010 and consists of 800 pages detailing the guidelines for implementation, certification, standards, and specifications for the meaningful use of EHRs. This information is crucial for software developers as it provides the final set of criteria needed to produce EHRs that can be submitted for certification. It also clarifies what “meaningful use” entails for eligible providers. The rule has 25 criteria that apply to eligible providers, out of which an eligible provider can choose to defer five, with some provisions and exceptions. There are additional criteria for eligible hospitals listed in the final rule that do not apply to eligible providers. The meaningful use and the use of a certified EHR are the keys to applying for and receiving federal stimulus funds.
Because the criteria for meaningful use will become incrementally more complex in future stages, it will be easier for you to attain meaningful use the sooner you implement EHRs in your practice.
How does Medicare play into this?
Updated January 5, 2012.
Eligible providers seeing Medicare patients can receive up to $44,000 over the course of five years. An additional 10% is available to eligible providers operating in a designated Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA); this additional payment will be made as separate lump-sum payments no later than 120 days after the end of the calendar year for which the eligible provider was eligible for the bonus payment. For more information, go to www.hpsafind.hrsa.gov. The general depiction of the payout schedule is in the following table.
How to read the table: Each column represents the first year that you demonstrate meaningful use of a certified EHR system. Each row represents how much the maximum payout will be each year. For example, if you demonstrate meaningful use in 2011 or 2012, your payout will be up to $18,000 in the first year and a total payout of up to $44,000 over the life of the incentive program. If you delay adoption until 2013, your first year payout will be up to $15,000 in 2013 and a maximum total payout of up to $39,000 over the life of the incentive program.
| Payout Year | 2011 Adoption | 2012 Adoption | 2013 Adoption | 2014 Adoption | 2015 & Beyond Adoption |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2011 |
$18K |
― |
― |
― |
― |
2012 |
$12K |
$18K |
― |
― |
― |
2013 |
$8K |
$12K |
$15K |
― |
― |
2014 |
$4K |
$8K |
$12K |
$12K |
― |
2015 |
$2K |
$4K |
$8K |
$8K |
$0K |
2016 |
― |
$2K |
$4K |
$4K |
$0K |
Total |
$44K |
$44K |
$39K |
$24K |
$0K |
Eligible providers whose caseloads include at least 30% Medicaid patients are eligible to receive up to $64,000 over the course of five years. Eligible providers cannot obtain incentives from both Medicaid and Medicare, but eligible hospitals can. Eligible providers include ophthalmologist and include optometrists in Florida, Kentucky, and Ohio.
According to CMS, under FFS Medicare, the payment incentive amount, subject to an annual limit, is equal to 75 percent of an eligible provider's Medicare physician fee schedule allowed charges submitted no later than two months after the end of the calendar year (CY). This means that, for 2011, the EHR incentive payment for an eligible provider would be, subject to an annual limit, equal to 75 percent of the eligible provider’s Medicare physician fee schedule allowed charges for CY 2011, based on claims for services performed by the eligible provider from January 1, 2011, through December 31, 2011, and submitted to the eligible provider’s Medicare contractor (MAC/carrier) no later than February 29, 2012.
To earn the maximum dollar amount of $18,000 for stage 1 meaningful use in 2011 or 2012, the eligible provider must have $24,000 or more in Medicare Part B claims.
How do I sign up for the Medicare/Medicaid EHR Incentive program?
Updated January 5, 2012.
To register for the Medicare/Medicaid EHR Incentive Program, follow these steps:
- Make a note of your National Provider Identifier (NPI), issued by the CMS; Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) issued by the IRS; and business address and phone number. This information is required
- Download the “Registration User Guide for Eligible Professionals” for instructions:
http://www.cms.gov/EHRIncentivePrograms/Downloads/EHRMedicareEP_RegistrationUserGuide.pdf. - Go to the Medicare & Medicaid EHR Incentive Program Registration and Attestation System: https://ehrincentives.cms.gov. Follow the instructions in the “Registration User Guide for Eligible Professionals document.
After registration, you can choose either the Medicare EHR Incentive Program or the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program, subject to the eligibility requirements. Currently, only optometrists in Florida, Kentucky, and Ohio and ophthalmologists nationwide are eligible for the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program. No provider may sign up for both incentive programs.
For 2011, the last day to begin the attestation period was October 3. The last day to report quality measures to obtain the incentive money for the year ending December 31, 2011, is February 29, 2012.
For 2012, the last day to begin the attestation period is October 1, 2012. If you begin your meaningful use measures in 2012, you still qualify for your full incentive potential. After 2012, your incentive potential diminishes each year.
For more information about the registration and attestation process, go to the Registration and Attestation EHR Incentives Programs page on the CMS Web site: http://www.cms.gov/EHRIncentivePrograms/20_RegistrationandAttestation.asp.
Where can I find the EHR Certification Number?
Updated November 3, 2011.
An EHR Certification Number is not required when you initially register for Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Program, but is required when you reach the attestation stage. Here is how to find the EHR Certification Number for OfficeMate/ExamWRITER and any other components you are using to satisfy meaningful use:
Note: These instructions are also listed on page 16 in the Attestation User Guide for Eligible Professionals.
- Go to the Certified Health IT Product List.
- Click Ambulatory Practice Type.
- Type OfficeMate in the Search For text box and click Search.
- In the search result displaying OfficeMate/ExamWRITER, click Add to Cart.
- OfficeMate/ExamWRITER is eligible to meet 100% of the criteria, but if you are using other components to meet portions of the criteria, search for those products and add them to your cart.
- Click View Cart.
- Click the Get CMS EHR Certification ID button.
- Write down the EHR Certification Number that appears in bold in the middle of the page and return to the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Program to enter the number in the registration or attestation pages.
How can I determine if I have met all of the objectives and their associated measures for meaningful use?
Added January 5, 2012.
To track your progress toward meeting meaningful use requirements in OfficeMate/ExamWRITER, Open OfficeMate Administration or ExamWRITER, click Reports, and select CMS Meaningful Use Reporting.
Once you have your report from OfficeMate/ExamWRITER, use the Meaningful Use Attestation Calculator to determine if you have met all of the objectives and their associated measures for meaningful use prior to completing attestation. Note that the tool does not calculate clinical quality measures; rather, it allows you to assess your readiness to successfully complete the attestation process. After entering your core and menu set measure meaningful use data, the calculator will display whether you have met the necessary criteria for these objectives. You can then print a copy of the measures that you have entered and whether they have passed or failed. The calculator will indicate in red those measures for which the input values did not meet the required thresholds and will mark them as "failed."
How do I attest (report) meaningful use?
Updated January 5, 2012.
After completing your initial 90 days of meaningful use with OfficeMate/ExamWRITER, attest to your meaningful use on the CMS Web site. Return to the CMS Web site to attest each successive year. For a visual walk-through and detailed attestation instructions, view the Attestation User Guide for Eligible Professionals.
How do I get my incentive payments?
Updated January 5, 2012.
To be eligible to apply to receive the stimulus funds in 2011, you have to be an eligible provider using a certified EHR for 90 days, report meaningful use measures for those 90 days, and then apply for the incentive payment. To earn the maximum dollar amount of $18,000 for stage 1 meaningful use in 2011 or 2012, the eligible provider must have $24,000 or more in Medicare Part B claims. If the eligible provider does not have $24,000 or more in Medicare Part B claims, the provider is still eligible to receive 75% of his or her Medicare physician fee schedule allowed charges. If the eligible provider does not have $24,000 or more in Medicare Part B claims in the 90-day reporting window, and the provider expects to earn that much throughout the calendar year, the provider can still apply for the incentive payment. Payments will simply be held until the eligible provider meets the $24,000 threshold in allowed charges for calendar year in order to maximize the amount of the EHR incentive payment that they receive. If the eligible provider has not met the $24,000 threshold in allowed charges by the end of the calendar year, CMS expects to issue an incentive payment for the eligible provider in the following March (allowing 60 days after the end of the calendar year for all pending claims to be processed). Funds will be distributed through Medicare and Medicaid as incentive payments to eligible providers who demonstrate meaningful use of certified electronic health record technology.
Eligible providers are required to submit calculated meaningful use measures through an online attestation process (the final rule requires EHR vendors to provide an interface that performs the calculation for all measures implemented electronically). Attestation opened on April 18, 2011, and for the first reporting period, will be open until February 2012. Stimulus funds will start to be paid in May 2011 (incentive payments for the Medicare EHR Incentive Program will be made approximately four to eight weeks after an eligible provider successfully attests that they have demonstrated meaningful use of certified EHR technology).
Medicaid incentives will be paid by the states, but the timing will vary according to state. Contact your state Medicaid agency for more details about payment.
Updated April 29, 2011.
No, the payment comes from Medicare or Medicaid to the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) of the eligible provider selected at the time of registration, through the same channels his or her insurance claims are processed. The form of payment (electronic funds transfer or check) is the same as for claims payments.
Will Eyefinity help me get my stimulus money?
Updated January 10, 2011.
The certified version of OfficeMate and ExamWRITER provides you with everything that you need to qualify for the EHR Incentive program. You are responsible for signing up for either the Medicare EHR Incentive Program or the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program and applying to receive your stimulus funds. For more information about what you need to do to achieve meaningful use and get your stimulus money, view our Meaningful Strategies to Meaningful Use Webinars and Q&As and Meaningful Use Starter Kit. Our goal is to help you understand the requirements and process to receive stimulus money so that you can demonstrate meaningful use and collect your stimulus money.
Are these incentives available on a per-provider or on a per-office basis?
Updated June 11, 2009.
The incentives currently available are paid on a per-provider basis.
Does meaningful use apply only to Medicare patients, or are non-Medicare patients included?
Added March 17, 2011.
Meaningful use involves your entire patient base. The incentive money amount paid for providing meaningful use is determined by your Medicare allowable billings.
Will the government verify with Eyefinity my use of the EHR?
Updated January 5, 2012.
No, you will communicate your meaningful use of a certified technology through attestation to Medicare. Eligible providers are required to submit calculated meaningful use measures through an online attestation process. The final rule requires EHR vendors to provide an interface that performs the calculation for all measures implemented electronically.
What if I don't demonstrate meaningful use of an EHR system after the incentives are in place?
Updated June 11, 2009.
Providers who do not demonstrate meaningful use in 2014 will have their Medicare fee schedules reduced beginning in 2015. The reduction schedule is as follows:
- For 2015, down to 99% of the regular fee schedule
- For 2016, down to 98%
- For 2017 and each subsequent year, down to 97%
Furthermore, if the Secretary of Health and Human Services determines that fewer than 75% of the eligible healthcare professionals are utilizing EHRs at the beginning of 2018, the Secretary can further reduce the fee schedule to 96% and then 95% in subsequent years, but not further than 95%.
What are the important dates in the EHR Incentive Program?
Added January 5, 2012.
According to http://www.cms.gov/EHRIncentivePrograms/, you should keep in mind the following important dates in the EHR Incentive Program for the 2011 calendar year:
- January 1, 2011 – Reporting year begins for eligible professionals.
- January 3, 2011 – Registration for the Medicare EHR Incentive Program begins.
- January 3, 2011 – For Medicaid providers, states may launch their programs if they so choose.
- April 18, 2011 – Attestation for the Medicare EHR Incentive Program begins.
- May 2011 – EHR Incentive Payments expected to begin.
- October 3, 2011 – Last day for eligible professionals to begin their 90-day reporting period for calendar year 2011 for the Medicare EHR Incentive Program.
- December 31, 2011 – Reporting year ends for eligible professionals.
- February 29, 2012 – Last day for eligible professionals to register and attest to receive an Incentive Payment for calendar year 2011.
Additionally, you should keep in mind the following important dates in the EHR Incentive Program for the 2012 calendar year:
- January 1, 2012 – Reporting year begins for eligible professionals.
- October 1, 2012 – Last day for eligible professionals to begin their 90-day reporting period for calendar year 2012 for the Medicare EHR Incentive Program (this is not applicable to eligible professionals who attested in 2011).
- December 31, 2012 – Reporting year ends for eligible professionals.
- February 28, 2013 – Last day for eligible professionals to register and attest to receive an Incentive Payment for calendar year 2012.
Can I participate in the EHR Incentive Program along with the PQRS incentive program and ePrescribing incentive program at the same time?
Added August 9, 2010.
Eligible providers can participate in more than one incentive program at the same time; however, there are some limitations. The table below outlines the programs that eligible providers can participate in at the same time.
| If I am part of this program, can I still participate in this program? | PQRS | ePrescribing | EHR |
|---|---|---|---|
PQRS |
― |
Yes |
Yes |
ePrescribing |
Yes |
― |
Yes, but only if you elect to receive EHR payments through Medicaid for the year in question. |
EHR |
Yes |
Yes, but only if you elect to receive EHR payments through Medicaid for the year in question. |
― |
Will optometrists be penalized in 2011 for not using ePrescribing?
Updated June 9, 2011.
The CMS has indicated that optometrists, unlike ophthalmologists and most other physicians, will not be subject to a 1.5% ePrescribing penalty in 2011 if they do not submit ten out of 25 prescriptions via an ePrescribing system prior to June 30, 2011. Although optometrists will not be subject to the Medicare ePrescribing penalty in 2011, they can avoid penalties in subsequent years by starting ePrescribing now. The AOA recommends members have a plan for ePrescribing and look into ways to do ePrescribing in 2011 even if they are implementing EHRs in 2012 or beyond. CMS officials have suggested that they will impose penalties of 1.5% on optometrists in 2012 and 2% on optometrists in 2013–2018, based on performance in 2011 and beyond.
The requirements to participate in the incentive program are very straight forward. There are three steps:
- Sign up qualified ePrescribing system: One of the simple ways to find out if your system has the ability to electronically prescribe is to visit Surescripts and identify if the product is listed in their certified products. If you are currently not using an EHR, you can select a stand-alone solution. You can find a list of available standalone packages here.
- Submit G-Code G8553 in your superbill or encounter so that it is submitted via CMS 1500 or X12 837 claim file to the CMS (90801-9; 90862; 92002; 92004; 92012; 92014; 96150-2; 99201-5; 99211-5; 99304-10; 99315-16; 99341-5; 99347-50; G0101; G0108-9).
- Ensure that you have at least 25 ambulatory visits and other applicable services for applicable CPT codes.
Am I eligible to receive stimulus funds if I don't have a physical office?
Updated August 9, 2010.
If you service only nursing homes or otherwise don't have a physical office, you are still eligible for ARRA funds. Stimulus funds are determined by your meaningful use of electronic health records. There is no requirement for a physical office. If you see more than 50% of your patients at a hospital, however, you don't qualify for stimulus funds.
Does the HITECH Act apply to our office if we do not accept Medicare/Medicaid?
Added July 13, 2009.
No, the HITECH Act provides stimulus funds for Medicare or Medicaid providers only.
Can we collect incentive payments from both Medicare and Medicaid?
Added January 5, 2012.
No, each provider must research the incentive programs and decide which program will be most rewarding for his or her practice. Here is a more detailed comparison of the two programs:
Medicare Incentives (Cap of $44,000 Total Incentive per Provider for 2011–2016)
- Beginning in 2011, optometrists who can prove meaningful use of an EHR may receive up to $44,000 of Medicare payment incentives per provider over a five-year period.
- Incentive payments will equal 75% of the allowable Medicare fees billed each year with caps set each year from 2011 until 2016.
- EHR users can also qualify for an additional $10,000 for Physician Quality Reporting Initiatives. It was reported that this number was $20,000 because of the ePrescribing incentive, but if you choose to participate in the HITECH Act, you will not be allowed to collect the ePrescribing incentive on top of the Medicare (or Medicaid) incentive.
- Payments are made from Medicare.
- Each optometrist hoping to collect the incentive must be a participating Medicare provider.
- If your practice is in a health professional shortage area, you may receive up to 10% more. See the Department of Health and Human Services for more information.
Medicaid Incentives (Cap of $60,000 Total Incentive per Provider for 2011–2016)
- Optometrists in Florida, Kentucky, and Ohio, who have a high volume of Medicaid patients (30% or higher), qualify for Medicaid incentives.
- Ophthalmologists nationwide, who have a high volume of Medicaid patients (30% or higher), qualify for Medicaid incentives.
- For eligible providers, the payments would equal 85% of the allowable costs for adoption and operation of EHR technology (including related maintenance and training).
- It is recommended that participating optometrists and ophthalmologists check with his or her local state, as there will be regulations on the state level for this portion of the HITECH Act.
If our office begins to accept and actively bill Medicare within the next year, will we be eligible for the reimbursements?
Added August 9, 2010.
Yes. The first year stimulus amount is up to $18,000, based on the Medicare-allowable fees for 2011. You will only have to bill Medicare about $2,000 per month in allowable fees to get the full $18,000. The stimulus and fee schedule amounts decrease over the incentive period, making it even easier to qualify in subsequent years.
How many Medicare patients do I have to see to qualify?
Added January 5, 2012.
There isn't a minimum number of patients you have to see to qualify. The incentive payment is calculated off of allowable charges submitted to Medicare. The incentive amount is 75% of the allowed charges that are submitted to Medicare by the provider, with an $18,000 cap in 2011 or 2012. See “How does Medicare play into this?“ for detailed information about the payment caps.
Is the incentive payment based on Medicare payments received or the allowable fees I bill Medicare?
Added March 17, 2011.
Your incentive payment is based on the Medicare allowable fees that you bill.
What if I don't bill $24,000 or more to Medicare during the time that I am reporting meaningful use?
Updated January 5, 2012.
Your incentive payment is not influenced by when you implement meaningful use in your practice, as long as you meet the 90-day requirement for 2011 or 2012. Your incentive payment is based on the Medicare allowable fees that you bill throughout 2011 or 2012, even if you wait until October 1 to begin meaningful use.
Eligible providers will not receive incentive payments within their reporting timeframe if they have not yet met the threshold for allowed charges for covered professional services furnished by the EP during the year. Payments will be held until the eligible provider meets the $24,000 threshold in allowed charges for the calendar year in order to maximize the amount of the EHR incentive payment they receive. If the eligible provider has not met the $24,000 threshold in allowed charges by the end of the calendar year, CMS will issue an incentive payment for the eligible provider in the following March (allowing 60 days after the end of the calendar year for all pending claims to be processed).
Will I receive my stimulus reimbursement money as a tax refund?
Updated April 29, 2011.
No, the reimbursement money will be distributed directly to you and will not be a tax refund. The payment comes from Medicare or Medicaid to the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) of the eligible provider selected at the time of registration, through the same channels his or her insurance claims are processed. The form of payment (electronic funds transfer or check) is the same as for claims payments.
Do I get back just what I paid for the software?
Added January 5, 2012.
There is no correlation between what you receive in incentive payments and what you pay for the EHR software. See “How does Medicare play into this?“ for the amounts that you are eligible to receive if you qualify for the incentive payments set forth in the HITECH Act.
Will they pay for my computers?
Updated August 9, 2010.
No, the incentive payment is a pure bonus, and you can use it in any manner you see fit. There is no provision in the final rule for paying for computers. If you are interested in applying for grants or loans from the CMS or HHS to pay for your computers, contact them directly.
How do I sign up for the ExamWRITER ePrescribing Interface?
Added November 2, 2010.
For more information about the ExamWRITER ePrescribing Interface, go to http://www.officemate.net/examwriter_va_erx.aspx. To sign up to begin using the interface, contact us at 800.269.3666 or salesOM@eyefinity.com.
What has Eyefinity done to prepare for the HITECH Act?
Updated January 5, 2012.
Eyefinity has ensured that you can use OfficeMate/ExamWRITER to fulfill meaningful use requirements and thereby qualify for incentive payments.†
Additionally, Eyefinity has created a Meaningful Use Starter Kit, which contains videos, checklists, and education about achieving meaningful use with OfficeMate/ExamWRITER.
It’s important to Eyefinity that you understand HITECH Act and meaningful use and that you receive the full benefit of stimulus money with a meaningful implementation of OfficeMate/ExamWRITER.
†OfficeMate/ExamWRITER version 10 is 2011/2012 compliant and was certified as a Complete EHR on October 29, 2010, by the Certification Commission for Health Information Technology (CCHIT®), an ONC-ATCB, in accordance with the applicable eligible provider certification criteria adopted by the Secretary of Health and Human Services. The 2011/2012 criteria support the Stage 1 meaningful use measures required to qualify eligible providers and hospitals for funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).
Which eyecare software products are certified today?
Updated October 19, 2010.
You can view a list of certified health IT products on the ONC Web site. The ONC has stipulated that there will be no “grandfathering” of previously certified software products. All products, regardless of their certification histories, must go through the certification process due to the numerous revisions and additions to the certification criteria.
In late-August 2010, the ONC authorized and announced CCHIT and the Drummond Group as the first ONC Authorized Testing and Certification Bodies (ONC-ATCB). Their certification processes began in September 2010. There are no separate guidelines for optometry or ophthalmology and it is not clear if there will be any specific specialty-related guidelines in future stages.
Can I qualify for incentive payments if I use OfficeMate practice management software only?
Updated January 5, 2012.
No, OfficeMate alone does not qualify. You must use a certified EHR system, like OfficeMate/ExamWRITER to qualify. We recommend that you contact Eyefinity immediately to initiate the purchase and deployment of OfficeMate/ExamWRITER and ePrescribing in your practice. Keep in mind that 70% of the incentive payments under the stimulus program will be available in the first two years.
What if I am using OfficeMate and ExamWRITER now?
Updated January 5, 2012.
If you have fully implemented OfficeMate/ExamWRITER in your practice and have an active software maintenance agreement, ensure that you are using v10 or later to qualify for meaningful use. Future software upgrades will continue the process of complying with new EHR federal government certification standards.
Go to the Meaningful Use Starter Kit for videos, checklists, and education about achieving meaningful use with OfficeMate/ExamWRITER.
When will the certified version of OfficeMate/ExamWRITER be available?
Updated January 5, 2012.
OfficeMate/ExamWRITER version 10, the certified version, was released in March 2011. If you have an active software maintenance agreement, upgrade to the latest version of OfficeMate/ExamWRITER for free.
Updated January 5, 2012.
Go to the Meaningful Use Starter Kit for videos, checklists, and education about achieving meaningful use with OfficeMate/ExamWRITER.
We will continue to add information about the HITECH Act, meaningful use, and educational opportunities to our Web site. Beginning in November 2010 and continuing for several months, we offered a series of free Webinars, which have been archived on our Web site.
Who can I contact at Eyefinity for more information?
Updated August 9, 2010.
We’ve set up a unique e-mail address to receive and address your questions. We’d like to know what your questions are right now. Please contact us at hitech@eyefinity.com.

