Two recently introduced Senate bills may expand EHR incentive payments for meaningful use of electronic health records; one applies to mental health care providers, and the other to multi-campus hospitals. Both Senate bills follow introduction of similar bills in the House.
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse introduced S.3709, the “Health Information Technology Extension for Behavioral Health Services Act,” which would extend electronic health record incentive payments under Medicaid and Medicare to mental health care providers. The bill expands coverage to behavioral or mental health professionals, substance abuse professionals, psychiatric hospitals, community mental health centers, mental health treatment facilities, and substance abuse treatment facilities.
Senator Charles Schumer also recently introduced another EHR incentive payment expansion. The “Electronic Health Record Incentives for Multi-Campus Hospitals Act,” S.3708, clarifies the application of EHR payment incentives in cases of multi-campus hospitals, permitting payments to each campus of a multi-campus hospital system consisting of a main provider hospital and hospitals at remote locations, even if the systems have only one provider number. Via iHealthbeat.
Ms. Graham is a writer and editor with a current focus on health and wellness. To read more of her articles, please visit her columnist page.Edited by
Erin Monda