Do You Qualify for CMS Grant Money?

by Leigh-Ann Renz, 6.10.14

*presented by PIMSY mental health EHR / practice management software

You could be passing up $63,750 (for Medicaid) – or stand to be penalized on all of your reimbursements (for Medicare). Join Meaningful Use (MU) consultant Adam Lowell to find out how your practice can best benefit from the MU programs, from a mental & behavioral health care perspective.

Get the scoop in our complimentary Meaningful Use for Mental Health webinar

Meaningful Use is a grant program created as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. This grant program was established to take the financial sting out of transitioning the American healthcare system to the use of an electronic health record (EHR). The grant money is awarded to the individual eligible professional (EP), which CMS classifies as an MD, DO or NP – someone who can prescribe.

The EP has the option of participating in the Medicare or the Medicaid program. Most behavioral health organizations qualify for the Medicaid MU program which requires that 30% or greater of total billing be Medicaid charges. This program pays out $63,750 over 6 years to cover an organization’s purchase of an electronic health record, IT hardware, software engineering, technology consultants, office improvements, document management system, etc.

If you qualify for both the Medicaid and Medicare MU programs, the Medicaid option pays out more incentive funds and has more accessible deadlines.

If you qualify only for the Medicare program but don’t participate, you may be subject to a penalty on all of your Medicare reimbursements: you must start using a certified EHR or apply for a hardship exemption by 7/1/14.

Watch a video of our Meaningful Use for Mental Health webinar, hosted by Adam Lowell

Adam Lowell has spent the last 15 years managing practices. Throughout his career, he has designed and configured solutions for the medical field in relation to the challenges of document management, Meaningful Use compliance and the ever changing technological landscape that the healthcare industry brings. His strong practice management background along with the core principles of running a business translate to the basics of any business and industry.

Leigh-Ann Renz is the Marketing and Business Develompent Director of PIMSY EHR. For more information about electronic solutions for your practice, check out Behavioral Health EHR.