Group wants higher payments for MDs with EMRs

A state task force based in Maryland has concluded that incentives such as higher reimbursement payments could meaningfully speed adoption of EMRs by doctors. The report, produced by the Task Force to Study Electronic Health Systems, argues that health IT can cut costs by avoiding duplicate testing and procedures and avoiding medication errors. They also concluded, as most others have who study the matter, that while EMRs, e-prescribing and HIEs have the potential to save money and improve care, it's not clear just how much money and time it can save, nor how substantial that quality improvement will be. That's why doctors need a push, said Dr. Jonathan Weiner, a professor of health policy and management at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. "You have to provide very significant incentives so somebody can make money on it," he says.

To learn more about the group's conclusions:
- read this Associated Press article

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