The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has instituted substantial incentives to providers to help foster the adoption and “meaningful use” of certified electronic health records (EHRs).1 The Meaningful Use Incentive Program, established under the Health Information Technology Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act of 2009, includes three successive stages, each with certain objectives that must be met to receive incentive payments. In the program's first year (2011), more than 100,000 providers have registered,2 and more than $2.5 billion in incentives has already been paid by CMS to eligible providers.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has instituted substantial incentives to providers to help foster the adoption and “meaningful use” of certified electronic health records (EHRs).1 The Meaningful Use Incentive Program, established under the Health Information Technology Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act of 2009, includes three successive stages, each with certain objectives that must be met to receive incentive payments. In the program's first year (2011), more than 100,000 providers have registered,2 and more than $2.5 billion in incentives has already been paid by CMS to eligible providers.