Important RI REC Program Updates

Important Program Updates

July 6, 2011

RI Medicaid EHR Incentive Program now open for attestation

stethoscope and $ You can now register for the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program in Rhode Island! The program officially went "live" on July 4th.

If you are eligible, you can begin the process to receive up to $21,250 for your first year of program participation. Once you successfully attest, you can expect your payment in six to eight weeks.

RI's Medicaid EHR program uses the patient volume/encounter calculation method to determine eligibility. Pediatricians may participate with a reduced patient volume (20% instead of the 30% required for other specialties). However, if you are a pediatrician with less than 30% patient volume from Medicaid, the maximum you can receive for the first year is $14,167.

Six Rhode Island providers who are enrolled in RI REC's EHR Adoption Program have already successfully demonstrated meaningful use of an EHR through the Medicare EHR incentive Program. Each will receive up to $18,000. However, you do not need to demonstrate meaningful use during the first year of participation in the Medicaid program--you only have to demonstrate that you have adopted, implemented, or upgraded certified EHR technology. At least 24 of our enrolled providers are working on attesting in the Medicaid program this week.

Your RI REC Relationship Manager now has a Meaningful Use Incentive Calculator tool to help you calculate your potential eligibility and payments using your practice data. The tool incorporates any patient volume reductions from the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

For additional information, see the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program section of our June DocEHRnews or contact your REC Relationship Manager.
To begin the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program registration and attestation process, click here. After you register, it will take approximately 24 hours to receive an email message with the link to complete the attestation process.
To contact RI's Medicaid program directly, write to ehrincentive@dhs.ri.gov.

Register now for free Health IT training and certification

online training class

We are excited that now we can offer free Health IT courses for you and your staff. We need enough registered students to offer the classes, so please review the following responses to your requests for more information, and register today!

Who is offering the program and who is eligible to participate?

RI REC has partnered with Quality Partners of Rhode Island and the New England Institute of Technology to offer free comprehensive Health IT training. A tiered approach accommodates those new to computers and EHRs, those with some skills, as well as those who already have enough experience to take the Certified Professionals in EHRs (CPEHR) exam. Members of RI REC's EHR Adoption Program have the option of completing the program's Tier 3 training online.

For a description of the three tiers of training, see the Health IT Certification Program brochure.

When do classes start? Where are they located, and at what time?

At this time, classes in all three tiers are offered on a flexible schedule that depends on program need and available facilities and instructors. We are monitoring the results of the required Prove-It assessment test and when there is a large enough group of students in a tier, we will offer a class. You can begin the online Tier 3 training at any time.

Based on a survey and feedback, classes now start at 5 pm and most are 3½ hours long, although the start time could change based on demand. They will be offered at both NEIT campuses in Warwick and East Greenwich.

The brochure says that students must live in Rhode Island. If I live in Massachusetts but work in Rhode Island, can I participate?

The federal grant funding stipulates that all students be RI residents, no matter where you work. However, if you are a member of RI REC's EHR Adoption Program and qualify for Tier 3 training, there is no residency restriction.

After I take the Prove-It test, is there a priority for who can enroll first?

For the most part, classes are filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

I'm interested. How do I register?

Visit www.docehrtalk.org/about-ri-rec/hitc and click "Register."

Although you may see "Waiting List" on the registration page, please continue to complete the form and click "Save" to submit. Shortly after signing up, you will receive an e-mail message that directs you to take the online Prove-It assessment test to help us assign you to the program tier that is best for you.

Tell your colleagues about our EHR Adoption Program

refer a colleague As a member of RI REC's EHR Adoption Program, you are familiar with the services and support we provide as part of our federal grant.

We are here to help you choose and/or use an EHR to improve the care you provide patients, the efficiency of your practice, and to qualify for federal and local incentive programs. We also offer RI REC subsidies for our enrolled members.

Please help us with our goal of assisting 1,000 eligible RI primary care providers, with or without an EHR, with achieving meaningful use. We encourage you to refer your colleagues who are not yet enrolled to contact us about their eligibility. You may also send them our EHR Adoption Program fact sheet, or direct them to start the enrollment process themselves by clicking the "Join Now" button on the home page at www.DocEHRtalk.org.

Thank you for your help.

The RI Regional Extension Center (REC) is a service of the Rhode Island Quality Institute, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving the healthcare system in Rhode Island. To learn more, visit www.DocEHRtalk.org.

The REC and its services and materials are made possible through a grant from the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology with US Department of Health and Human Services support.