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Letters to the Editor
Published Online: 17 September 2010

Government Initiative Needed

Publication: Psychiatric News
Volume 45, Number 18
https://doi.org/10.1176/pn.45.18.psychnews_45_18_035
I am writing to support wholeheartedly the letter in the July 16 issue by Raymond Yerkes, M.D., in which he proposed that the government develop electronic medical record (EMR) software programs and sell them to physicians at cost.
Single physicians (especially psychiatrists) and small group practices do not want to make the big investment of time and money to set up an EMR system, especially with all of the complex utilization requirements necessary to allow doctors to earn the Medicare reimbursement bonuses. This incentive program seems much more suited to large practices and institutions.
It seems evident that the government could develop an EMR system specifically for psychiatrists (and other physician specialties) at a relatively low cost and then recoup the cost by selling it for a small fee. Small groups such as my own would be much more motivated to set up an EMR system by low up-front costs and low continued software licensing fees rather than by bonus Medicare payments, which may never be fully realized.
I hope that this letter and that of Dr. Yerkes will be taken as a call to action. I would like to see APA push this idea with the federal government since it would benefit APA members and advance the national effort to improve the quality and efficiency of health care delivery in this country.
BRIAN FELDMAN, M.D. Boca Raton, Fla.

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Psychiatric News
Volume 45 • Number 18 • September 17, 2010
Pages: 21

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Published online: 17 September 2010
Published in print: September 17, 2010

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