Explanation
BACKGROUND: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently created an electronic health record (EHR) incentive program for Medicaid providers utilizing ARRA monies. In Ohio, this program is managed by the Ohio Department of Job & Family Services and is called the Medicaid Provider Incentive Program, or MPIP. MPIP provides incentive payments to eligible professionals (EPs) that adopt, implement, upgrade, and demonstrate "meaningful use" (MU) of certified EHR technology. An EP is an enrolled Ohio Medicaid provider with an active Ohio Medicaid Agreement. At Columbus Public Health (CPH), these include Public Health Physicians and Advance Practice Registered Nurses. Under MPIP, EPs can receive up to $63,750 over a maximum of 6 years of participation in the program. As is provided and is allowed, the EPs at CPH will be reassigning their incentive payments to CPH. MPIP will continue until 2021, but 2016 is the last year an EP may begin participation in the program.
In order to properly track and account for these monies, we are requesting that the City Auditor create a new subfund within the City's Special Purpose Fund, Fund No. 223. CPH needs to be able to track and demonstrate that we are "meaningful users of certified EHR technology" and to document and show our "efforts to adopt, implement, upgrade or meaningfully use certified EHR technology."
FISCAL IMPACT: CPH anticipates receiving $127,500 (6 EPs x $21,250 for enrolling in MPIP) of the potential $382,500 (6 EPs x $63,750) during Fiscal Year 2012 as the EPs complete the application process. As far as the remaining monies, they would be applied for and received as soon as CPH is able to prove "meaningful use," that is, meet certain objectives, standards and benchmarks for the three defined stages/phases. CPH has a maximum of six years to participate in the program. Presently, the plan is to use these monies to support the purchase of a new electronic health records system ...
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