Quick Start to Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs

Two additional States have launched their Medicaid EHR Incentive programs already this year. On January 2nd both Colorado and Kansas opened registration for their programs. The Arizona REC announced that the recently launched Arizona program will be accepting attestation today on the 12th. The Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) will accept the attestations for the 2011 calendar year through February 29, 2012. This leaves only a few states left to start their programs. The Medicaid EHR Incentive Program is a voluntary program established by Congress, administered individually by each State and territory. CMS estimates that all States will initiate Incentive Programs. For a complete list and links, view this resource.

Along with their Medicaid Incentive Program, Colorado is expanding their health information exchange network. The Colorado Regional Health Information Organization (CORHIO) is reporting that LabCorp and Quest Diagnostics, the two largest US laboratories, and regional Pathology Associates Medial Lab are connecting to the CORHIO network. For more information see their announcement.

After an initial delay the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has begun their Medicaid program and engaging the hospitals. Their web site is reporting that eligible professionals (EPs) can expect to be able to apply for incentive payments in Kansas beginning February 2012. It also explains that the program year for EPs ends with the calendar year and EPs have a 90-day grace period to attest on the prior program year. So EPs may attest on program year 2011 through March 31, 2012. KDHE expects that attestations received by March 31, 2012 will be fully processed and subsequent payments will disbursed by April 30, 2012.