Meaningful Use: Why Radiologists Should Participate

By Nancy Norman, medQ Marketing

Participating in CMS’s Meaningful Use program with the use of Certified Electronic Health Record Technology program (CEHRT) will increase safety, communication and quality of patient care. One common question we hear from radiologists is “why should I participate in Meaningful Use”? Here are a few reasons why eligible radiologists should consider participating now.

-Eligible Radiologists have a choice of receiving substantial Incentive payments, or face penalties and cuts in Medicare reimbursements. They have until October 1, 2013 to have in place a fully MU certified EHR and receive up to $39,000 in incentive payments for this year, per eligible radiologist. By waiting until 2014, the incentive payment drops to $26,000 per radiologist. Those who chose to wait until 2015 will be required to begin using an EHR,  have less time to meet the requirements, and will likely end up paying penalties of up to 5% in Medicare payments.

- There is growing evidence that EHRs may be a financial advantage to patients. According to a recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, EHRs can slow the growth rate of outpatient care costs compared to traditional paper records.

-Eligible radiologists must participate in all stages of MU regardless of when they start, stage 1 is the starting point which requires 2 years and then to stage 2 for two years. All stages and length of time to do so are required. Waiting does not change the time frame of qualifying for each stage, and those who do wait will miss out on incentive payments and could face penalties.

-Increasing and maintaining referring physician orders is crucial to the well being of an imaging center’s bottom line. Referring physicians will be required to order a minimal percentage of radiology exams using CPOE via their EHRs. They will need to have the capability to send their orders to imaging centers that have a MU certified EHR. Those imaging practices that have delayed, or decided to opt out of MU may see a loss in business from their current referring physicians.

- EHRs are a more effective and faster method of delivering results to improve patient safety. Communication with patients and referring physicians is critical for patient safety and quality care. Radiologists must be equipped with technology that will allow them to effectively communicate test results and images.  A fully certified EHR will do that!

There are benefits and incentives available only for eligible radiologists participating in the MU program.  Choosing an EHR with a RIS vendor with complete certification will eliminate the costs of new technology and provide a hassle free implementation. 

Read more about medQ’s EHR workflow highlights and watch our webinar to find out how you can receive the maximum amount of incentive dollars!