Case study: CT health system subsidizes EMRs for MDs

For a while, hospitals were afraid to move ahead with subsidizing or outright donating EMRs for physicians, as possible violations of Stark laws and IRS regulations loomed for many. However, with questions over such donations largely abating, hospitals are beginning to move ahead with such programs. One example of a health system taking such an initiative on EMRs is Hartford Healthcare Corp., which is subsidizing an EMR system for 200 physicians in its affiliated medical practices.

Hartford Healthcare is the parent of non-profit Hartford Hospital, an 867-bed teaching hospital affiliated with the University of Connecticut Medical School. It's also owner of Midstate Medical Center, a 130-bed acute-care facility. Hartford Healthcare will be deploying the Electronic Health Record from Allscripts for 50 doctors in subsidiary Hartford Medical Group and another 150 physicians affiliated with the hospitals. The other Hartford Healthcare-owned group, Connecticut Multispecialty Group, implemented the Allscripts EHR for its 60 doctors three years ago.

Hartford Healthcare plans to cover the majority of the EMR's cost, as well as helping doctors implement the system and providing front-line technical support. As with other healthcare systems, one major reason Hartford is offering this financial help is to help convince smaller practices to get on board. (An open question that remains is whether the smaller practices will actually use the system, even with the subsidies--but maybe they'll have the needed sales skills to make that happen!)

To learn more about this implementation:
- read this Healthcare IT News piece

Related Articles:
IRS gives physician EMR donations the OK
Non-profits wondering how IRS feels about RHIOs
CMS now says NPI must match IRS data
Group says Stark rules unfair to for-profits

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