Steven, The money IS a grant to help doctors with the cost of automation.

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The act includes up to $44,000 in total incentives per physician for “meaningful use” of an Electronic Health Record (EHR) starting in 2011. (Note: Physicians reimbursed by Medicaid can receive up to 65,000 based on state defined guidelines.)

The EHR you use WILL HAVE TO MEET CERTAIN STANDARDS, and they will have 2 years to meet those standards.

If the government mandates the use of EHR with out money, it's an unfunded mandate. If the government provides MONEY, a lot of Money, to fund the mandate, its big government.

There are those doctors who will reject this initiative completely. Good for them. Time does not stand still nor does it move backward. For them it will be an extinction level event!

"The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn." ~ Alvin Toffler