The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 contains many provisions which affect health care information technology. MEDITECH is closely monitoring the legislation, particularly the areas which may impact our industry. One area which has piqued interest and inquiry is the language regarding reimbursement to hospitals and physicians who are "Medicare and Medicaid providers demonstrating 'meaningful use' of certified health I.T." Here are some of the parameters and statements regarding Physician and Hospital Incentives for Medicare/Medicaid.

Incentives for Physicians, include:

• Money is available commencing in 2011
• Compensate “meaningful EHR users” in an amount equal to an additional 75% of the allowed charge for professional services furnished by physicians
• Incentives are for 5 years, with a decreasing schedule each year thereafter
• No incentives after 2016 with reduction in Medicare reimbursements for physicians who are not "meaningful EHR users."

Incentives for Hospitals, include:

• Compensate “meaningful EHR users” according to a formula (yet to be determined)
• Incentives begin in 2011 and decrease every year thereafter (100%, 75%, 50%, 25%)
• Adoption after 2015 receives no incentive
• Reduction in reimbursements beginning in 2015 for hospitals that are not "meaningful EHR users."

MEDITECH actively participates in many discussions with industry leaders and agency officials. At this writing, we are awaiting further clarification of the phrase "meaningful user of a certified EHR." In addition, there is language regarding certification which falls under The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), a federal technology agency that develops and promotes measurement and standards for technology. We continue to closely monitor all areas which relate to changes in certification processes.

Over the past 40 years, MEDITECH has always ensured its software complies with Federal mandates, and we are always particularly sensitive to any changes regarding CMS reimbursement policies. MEDITECH's Advanced Clinical Systems Client/Server 5.6 and Advanced Clinical Systems MAGIC 5.6 products are CCHIT Certified®. We remain actively involved in all facets of emerging CCHIT® requirements, as we directly participate in the review of all new criteria, as well as provide public comment/feedback through our work with the HIMSS EHR Association. As stated earlier, we have already achieved a level of certification for our MAGIC and Client/Server 5.6 Releases, and we expect the yet-to-be-determined course of certification for our 6.0 Release will be successful.