Medicare law offers IT incentives

Last week, physicians sighed with relief as the threatened 10.6 percent Medicare cut was put on hold for 18 months despite a presidential veto. The bill didn't just protect physician reimbursement levels, however. It also included incentives for doctors to get more wired. Critics remain skeptical that such incentives will get physicians off the fence, but this is at least a start. Until now, no one on the Hill seemed to be able to agree on an approach.

The new law offers Medicare incentives for doctors who adopt healthcare IT as well as those who use e-prescriptions--a move proponents said could ultimately help cut medication errors and healthcare costs generally. The bill also expanded the list of telehealth originating sites (sites qualified to get paid for initiating a telehealth transaction) to include hospital-based renal dialysis centers, skilled nursing facilities and community mental health centers.

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

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Bill halting MD Medicare cuts approved by Congress