I think the question that all of us are ignoring is what the $44,000 mystical number is - it is a payment per year and depending on what article I read on the internet it may begin in 2010 or 2011. The money is not really just a giveaway - instead it is supposed to be used to upgrade your practice. The theory is that you are going to pay the 40,000 dollars to the EMR company - if what you want is a 40K program I am sure you can find some right now. Sadly the program does not even currently say what certified means - it may end up being an entirely new layer of government and completely revamped.
The other sad part is that many people may jump through hoops and still not get the incentive. Our state has a program that gives technology grants with an emphasis on rural underserved areas - many people apply and almost all of the grants were given to clinics in very large cities like Seattle, Spokane, Olympia and very few were really given to rural clinics. It is great to dangle the carrot in front of someone, but another to actually get the carrot.
That being said Jon recently posted here on the board that he had decided that the main focus of AC was to become CCHIT (or whatever it really is) certified and that he was committed to making this happen.
