Under the stimulus law, medical offices that buy or update electronic systems can receive up to $44,000 in bonus Medicare payments per doctor over five years, starting in 2011. They can get the money regardless of how much they pay for the unit. Hospitals are eligible for a $2 million bonus payment in the first year, millions more later on.
Congress jolted the market by rewarding doctors and hospitals that jump on board quickly and penalizing those who resist. The faster they get up and running, the more money they can get. On the flip side, Medicare plans to cut payments to those who fail to get wired up by 2015.
"The law is very well crafted," said John D. Halamka of Harvard Medical School, who is vice-chairman of a government advisory panel on health technology standards.
Halamka's advice to doctors and hospitals? Start shopping.
Federal Computer Week Jan. 2010
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