The 2009 federal economic stimulus package includes $19 billion for health information technology (HIT), the vast majority of which will be directed to physicians to subsidize the purchase and usage of Electronic Health Records (EHR) systems. Beginning in 2011, qualifying Medicare providers stand to receive up to $44,000 under the program; qualifying Medi-Cal providers stand to receive as much as $65,000. These funds are predicated on physicians achieving "meaningful use" of an EHR. "Meaningful use" will be defined by the federal government. Practices and groups that already have purchased EHR systems can also qualify for funds as long as they achieve "meaningful use."

Many of the standards governing the subsidies will be worked out in the coming months. In the meantime, CMA is ready to help you begin to navigate this process, whether you already use an EHR system or are considering purchasing one. See CMA's primer on what physicians need to do to qualify for these funds.

Given the lack of clarity about what EHR systems will qualify a physician to receive the federal subsidy and how the federal government will define "meaningful use," CMA believes that now is not the time to rush out and purchase an EHR system.

Right now, CMA advises that you begin assessing your HIT needs, with an eye on what will work best for your specialty, the size of your practice, the stage in your career, and your comfort level with technology. Once the standards are developed, CMA will develop a marketplace of vendors with federally qualified EHR systems, complete with information about each that will assist you in choosing the right one for your practice.

For physicians who already use an EHR system, CMA will provide more information on how to ensure your system qualifies once the standards are developed. For more information, and answers to your questions, please see the resources listed below. CMA is closely monitoring the standards development process, and will be updating this resource center as new information becomes available.

HIT Resources for Physicians

• Meaningful Use: Proposed Definition
• THE BASICS: What California Physicians Need to Know about the HIT funds in the Economic Stimulus Package (CMA)
• Health IT Webinars (CMA)
• IT Resources (Alameda-Contra Costa Medical Society)
• Summary of HIT Provisions in Economic Stimulus Package (American Medical Association)
• Economic Stimulus for the Healthcare IT Industry (Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society)
• Coming Soon: How to Successfully Prepare and Implement an Electronic Health Records System (CMA)

E-Prescribing Resources

• Clinician’s Guide to Electronic Prescribing (eHealth Initiative)
• E-Prescribing for Dummies: A PowerPoint Guide (San Diego County Medical Society)
• Practical Guide to the E-prescribing Incentive Program (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Servces)