Texas Medical Providers Get More than $500 million For Use of Electronic Program

Some medical providers have received funds paid from a certain Medicare incentive program.

7,859 eligible providers in Texas have received more than $539,200,000 in payments under the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record Incentive Programs.

The EHR incentive programs, which began in 2011, provide incentive payments to eligible professionals, eligible hospitals, and critical access hospitals as they take on or upgrade the EHR technology for use in “meaningful” ways

“The West Texas Health Information Technology Regional Extension Center has played a major role in helping transform health care through the use of EHRs, ultimately leading to improved patient health care for West Texas, said Travis Hanson, executive director of that particular center.

“In addition to this endeavor, the WTxHITREC has successfully assisted numerous eligible providers and hospitals receive their HER incentive dollars through the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record Incentive Programs.”

A press release defines using the program in “meaningful ways” as ways that lead to higher quality care, improved patient safety, and shared decision making by patients and physicians.