EHR Incentives for Physicians

Robert Plovnick, M.D., director of APA's Department of Quality Improvement and Psychiatric Services, has posted important information on APA's Web site at <www.psych.org/ehrincentive> regarding physician adoption of electronic health records (EHR). Physicians who treat outpatient Medicare patients and demonstrate that they are using a “certified” EHR in a “meaningful” way will be eligible for incentive payments distributed through Medicare for up to $44,000 per physician over five years. The details of the incentive program will be established through regulation starting in December.