New CCHIT Incentive Index: 100+ programs to stimulate EHR adoption

The CCHIT Incentive Index™, first published in September 2008, has been extensively updated and now identifies more than 100 programs dedicated to promoting the wider adoption of electronic health records, particularly in the physician office setting. The resource tracks programs that have been established since 2006 to help physicians and clinics adopt EHRs through financial assistance and other incentives. A majority of the programs call for qualifying EHRs to be CCHIT Certified®.

The Index describes 45 programs offered by government agencies, insurance plans, employer coalitions and public-private partnerships, up from 40 in September. In addition, 59 programs representing 159 hospitals and their physician staffs have taken advantage of the federal “safe harbor” regulations announced in 2006, up from 50 in September. Under those rules, hospitals can subsidize up to 85 percent of certain costs for physicians to acquire, implement and maintain EHRs which are CCHIT Certified® for their offices.

For more information, see the CCHIT Incentive Index.