Home Forums Discussions Meaningful Use saying yes or no to attesting for stage 1 meaningful use

Does anyone know of the ramifications of just saying no to collecting on the meaningul use stages?
If one meets all the criteria for stage 1 but does not attest will there be a penalty?
As I move through the process, and nearly ready to attest for stage 1, I ask is 18K - 6K(taxes), a net of 12K really worth going through with it?
I am interested in feedback on those who attested and those who decided not to attest and why.

The process is pretty painless. Just generate the report, fill out the boxes, wait 8-10 weeks. I say you should after all the work you put in to get the EMR going.

The ramification of doing all the data collection and meeting all the criteria for stage 1 MU, and then not attesting, is a lack of $18K in your pocket.

Although it may seem patriotic, the US government expends (probably wastefully) this amount of money about every 0.16 seconds.

Take the money.

I agree. I'll be attesting within the next few weeks. I've spent $15K on AC for 2 years (5 providers), a new server, new computers, a lot of IT work/charges, so I'll be gladly cashing the check.

David Lee, MD
IM
Dallas, TX

Jimmie, other people have expressed concerns about accepting Meaningful Use incentive funds. Several rationales were given. I found David Grauman?s case against participating to be the most compelling (though ultimately, I went ahead). I will try to find his posts and provide a link. As you said, everyone needs to make their own call.
Right now you are talking about giving up incentives; perhaps 12k after taxes the first year, as you estimate. You also may be eligible for PQRS incentives and other state programs as well. Unfortunately while that is it for now, in the future that is not the full extent of it. After 2014, the incentives become penalties. The penalties apply to Medicare only- these penalties or ?Adjustments? will be applied as a percent of Medicare Part B Professional Fee. They are scheduled to begin in 2015, and continue as follows: 

? 2015: 1%

? 2016: 2%

? 2017: 3%

? 2018 and 2019: may increase 1% / year, at the discretion of the Secretary of HHS.

My father in law takes pride in raising barn cats to keep the mice count to a minimum in and around the wheat bins. He does look a bit like the feline Pied Piper in the mornings when he feeds them and has become about the most effective cat herder I have witnessed.

I have heard docs are about as difficult to herd as cats, but my intuitive sense keeps coming back to the Pied Piper of Hamelin who led all the plague infested rats to the river but the city folks reneged on payment of service and he came back for the children at a later time as revenge.

I feel like a rat being lead to the river, and the pied piper will never get paid and our children are going to be paying for the cost of this for years to come.

Now, my rational sense say take the gosh darn money because you are going to be penalized anyway.

However, if there is a way to not get penalized and yet be compliant, might satisfy my pride.

The whole damn thing grovels me.

Jimmie,

I could not agree with you more. The government is going out of it way to put us out of business.