A survey conducted by the College of Health Information Management Executives finds that chief information officers appear to be cautiously optimistic about receiving stimulus funding under the HITECH Act, which provides incentive payments to healthcare professionals and organizations for meaningful adoption of electronic health records, according to a CHIME news release.
Of the 152 CHIME members who responded to the survey, 28 percent say they expect to qualify for the stimulus funding in the first six months of fiscal year 2011. Another 62 percent say they expect to qualify between April 1, 2011, and Sept. 20, 2012, which marks the end of Stage 1 of the incentive program. Ten percent of respondents say they don't believe they will quality for stimulus funds until fiscal years 2013 or 2014.
Other key findings from the survey include:
• Only two-thirds of respondents from hospitals with 100 to 199 beds say they will get funding within the first two fiscal years that Stage 1 criteria are in effect.
• Nearly all respondents from facilities with 600 to 999 beds expect to qualify for stimulus funding within the first two years of the program.
CHIME will be submitting a list of questions to federal officials for clarification on various aspects of the EHR stimulus funding program.
Read the news release about the CHIME survey.
Read more about HITECH funding:
- Senate Economic Stimulus Bill Would Delay 21% Medicare Cut, Include Outpatient Physicians in HITECH Funds
- HHS Releases Criteria on 'Meaningful Use,' Interoperability to Qualify for Billions in Funds for Electronic Health Records
Of the 152 CHIME members who responded to the survey, 28 percent say they expect to qualify for the stimulus funding in the first six months of fiscal year 2011. Another 62 percent say they expect to qualify between April 1, 2011, and Sept. 20, 2012, which marks the end of Stage 1 of the incentive program. Ten percent of respondents say they don't believe they will quality for stimulus funds until fiscal years 2013 or 2014.
Other key findings from the survey include:
• Only two-thirds of respondents from hospitals with 100 to 199 beds say they will get funding within the first two fiscal years that Stage 1 criteria are in effect.
• Nearly all respondents from facilities with 600 to 999 beds expect to qualify for stimulus funding within the first two years of the program.
CHIME will be submitting a list of questions to federal officials for clarification on various aspects of the EHR stimulus funding program.
Read the news release about the CHIME survey.
Read more about HITECH funding:
- Senate Economic Stimulus Bill Would Delay 21% Medicare Cut, Include Outpatient Physicians in HITECH Funds
- HHS Releases Criteria on 'Meaningful Use,' Interoperability to Qualify for Billions in Funds for Electronic Health Records