Officials from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced that they expect to begin sending out payments this week to providers who are participating in the electronic health records incentive program.
Even amid this exciting news, however, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT is trying to remind the healthcare community that the program is about more than just financial incentives.
In a recent blog on the office's site, officials wrote that becoming a meaningful user of health IT is about more than just meeting the government's regulations. It is about using technology to make significant improvements in the quality of care.
"Meaningful use is the idea that all of our nation’s health care system will benefit from an IT infrastructure in which electronic health information can be collected, exchanged, and innovatively deployed to improve the safety, quality and cost effectiveness of American health care," the blog stated.
By using electronic health records, the writers continue, healthcare could be made more affordable for everyone.