Home Forums Discussions General Discussion The Heck With Stimulus Money

Given the government's track record I doubt I will see any stimulus money. To qualify I would need to do more work than the stimulus money would pay for. So, why do it? Why shouldn't I just do what I need to to do make my office a better place?

I have chosen to do what I feel is right. I am not going to worry about order tracking or any of the other notions that gum up my office. I will use an EMR in a manner that is easy and works for my office.

Besides, do you really think in 2016 the government is going to penalize the five solo family doctors remaining in the country?

Tracking orders is more of a liability issue than a stimulus money issue, in my opinion.

You mean that tracking orders is needed to avoid missing any test results....correct? Or are you saying the other way around?

I don't think any of us are really going to get a check from Uncle Sam, if they give us with the right hand they will sure take it back with the left, but it is instructive to note how many middlemen are showing up. There is even some new agency (?sponsored by the government) whose job it is to help physicians start up EMR and qualify for stimulus money. No kidding, they get paid per physician that they sign up ( the Doc has to pay them too...I think it was $500 per physician). The lady who was talking to us was...you guessed it! a lawyer.

Anyway there seems to be a bunch of small print in the stimulus requirements, I am certainly not going to hold my breath waiting for money. I didn't switch to EMR for any reason other than I think it works so well.

I agree with all above - I use the EMR because it works and it allows me to do more for the pt. Every time a new feature is added I just see it as more it can do for me. .

I honestly do not think we will ever get a check.

Man, someone needs to erase the target painted on the doc's back. I hear a great big sucking sound.

I found this summary from ACP on what it may take to qualify for the EMR stimulus money this year. The final rule isn't due until June, so anyone interested should check back on this link periodically to see what the final requirements are.

The ACP has some recommendations on what measures will be the easiest to track, pending the final rule being released, in case anyone wants to check out how easy it is to collect the info with their EMR. I haven't done anything in depth, but I think we are pretty well positioned as users of AC.

Thanks John