EHR Meaningful Use Certification Program

OVERVIEW

We are pleased to offer our Dentrix Enterprise customers a certified solution for the EHR Incentive Program, also known as the Meaningful Use Program. Dentrix Enterprise 11.0 CE is a Modular EHR that meets 100% of the Base Criteria, 100% of CQM Domains, and 100% of the Ambulatory CQMs.

For more information on these Dentrix Enterprise solutions, including certification details, please see: Disclaimer, Vendor and Product Information, and Costs/Limitations Disclosures for Dentrix Enterprise 11.0:

Dentrix Enterprise 11.0 CE

BACKGROUND

In 2009, the U.S. Federal Government signed into law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) as part of the stimulus package to help improve the economy. As part of the ARRA Act, the Health Information Technology Act (HITECH Act) provides funding to eligible providers for adopting electronic health records (EHRs).

HITECH ACT Goals:

• Improve the quality, safety, cost and efficiency of healthcare
• Engage patients and their families in their own healthcare
• Reduce health disparities
• Improve care coordination
• Improve population and public health
• Ensure privacy and security for personal health information

EHR Incentive Program Administration

The HITECH Act is administered by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Most dentists who qualify for incentive payments will qualify under the Medicaid program; however, there are a few specialty dentists who will qualify under the Medicare program. (See Qualifications – Eligible Professionals, summarizing some of the differences between the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs.)

RESOURCES

• American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)
• EHR Incentive Program
• Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH Act)
• Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
• Eligible Professionals
• Frequently Asked Questions

QUALIFICATIONS

Eligible Professionals

Healthcare professionals must meet the eligibility criteria defined by law in order to receive incentive payments for implementing EHR programs. CMS has summarized these eligibility requirements as including the following:

Eligible professionals under the Medicare EHR Incentive Program include:

• Doctor of medicine or osteopathy
• Doctor of dental surgery or dental medicine
• Doctor of podiatry
• Doctor of optometry
• Chiropractor

Eligible professionals under the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program generally include:

• Physicians (primarily doctors of medicine and doctors of osteopathy)
• Nurse practitioner
• Certified nurse-midwife
• Dentist
• Physician assistant who furnishes services in a Federally Qualified Health Center or Rural Health Clinic that is led by a physician assistant.

Also, to qualify for an incentive payment under the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program, an eligible professional must generally meet one of the following criteria:

• Have a minimum 30% Medicaid patient volume (Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) patients do not count toward the Medicaid patient volume criteria)
• Have a minimum 20% Medicaid patient volume, and is a pediatrician
• Practice predominantly in a Federally Qualified Health Center or Rural Health Center and have a minimum 30% patient volume attributable to needy individuals

Eligible professionals eligible for both the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs must choose which incentive program they wish to participate in when they register.

Source: https://www.cms.gov/regulations-and-guidance/legislation/ehrincentiveprograms/eligibility.html

What is “Meaningful Use”

The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) has summarized “Meaningful Use” as follows:

Meaningful use is using certified electronic health record (EHR) technology to:

• Improve quality, safety, efficiency, and reduce health disparities
• Engage patients and family
• Improve care coordination, and population and public health
• Maintain privacy and security of patient health information

Source: https://www.healthit.gov/providers-professionals/meaningful-use-definition-objectives

Certified EHR Interoperability Technology and Electronic Dental Records Software

The Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs require the use of certified EHR technology. Standards, implementation specifications, and certification criteria for EHR technology have been adopted by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. You can find Dentrix Enterprise on the Certified Health IT Product List.

• Dentrix Enterprise 11.0 CE: For organizations that need a EHR dental software solution that includes a patient portal. Dentrix Enterprise 11.0 CE includes Dentrix Enterprise ePrescribe and Dentrix Enterprise Patient Portal.

For more information about certified EHR Technology, visit the CMS website.

REGISTRATION

If you meet the eligible professional criteria and other EHR Incentive Program requirements, you must register and attest in order to receive payment. CMS has provided a Registration User Guide that we recommend for your review. Follow these simple steps:

• Make sure you're eligible for the Medicaid and/or Medicare EHR Incentive Program. View eligibility guidelines at the Eligibility page.
• Log in to the CMS System.
• Register for the Medicare and/or Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs through CMS.
• Find the CMS EHR Certification ID number for Dentrix Enterprise on The Certified Health IT Product List website.

With respect to the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program:

• Apply with your state Medicaid governing organization. Choose your state here.
• Attest for the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program through your individual state. Please note—you will not undergo meaningful use attestation for the Medicaid Incentive Program through the CMS website.

Contact us today to learn more about Dentrix Enterprise and our certified solution for the EHR Incentive Program.