Financial constraints and other limitations have left solo practices lagging in adoption of electronic health records (EHR) systems, according to a Commonwealth Fund study, which found that only 49 percent of solo physicians are using the technology, compared to 90 percent of their colleagues in large practices. The AMA is clearing the barriers for small practices.
The study was based on surveys of primary care physician practices and found that the rate of EHR adoption increased from 46 percent in 2009 to 69 percent in 2012. Physicians who were part of large practices or integrated delivery systems or had access to financial incentives were more likely to have begun using the technology.
As Medicare’s EHR meaningful use program switches to the penalty phase, physicians with limited resources have an option for alleviating the bulk of the cost of these expensive systems.
Responding to AMA advocacy, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Office of the Inspector General published new rules Dec. 27 that will allow physicians to accept donated EHR systems without violating federal anti-kickback regulations through 2021.
That means hospitals, health systems and other entities covered under the rules can donate software, training and other services that small practices need to adopt EHRs. On the practice side, physicians must cover 15 percent of the donation cost prior to receiving it, as well as purchase any necessary hardware and ensure they are adequately staffed to use the technology.
The safe harbor requirements also protect small practices because donations cannot be tied to the volume or value of patient referrals or other business that might take place between the practice and the donating organization.
The AMA also is securing important relief from Medicare’s burdensome meaningful use requirements, which physicians identified as one of the greatest challenges to their practices in a recent AMA study by the RAND Corporation.
Most recently, the AMA won a yearlong extension of Stage 2, which will provide more time for physicians and EHR vendors to adequately prepare for Stage 3. The AMA continues to press HHS to improve EHR usability, make the program requirements more flexible and reduce the number of requirements physicians must meet to avoid penalties.
