CHIME: CIOs cautiously optimistic about EHR incentive funding
Members of the College of Health Information Management Executives (CHIME), who responded to an August survey, appear cautiously optimistic about their chances for achieving stimulus funding under the Health IT for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) portion of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).
Of the 152 CIOs who responded to the CHIME survey, 28 percent indicated that they expect to qualify for stimulus funding in the first six months of fiscal year 2011, which begins on Oct. 1. An additional 62 percent reported that they expect to qualify between April 1, 2011, and Sept. 30, 2012, which marks the end of Stage 1 of the incentive program. Only 10 percent believe they will not qualify for stimulus funds until fiscal years 2013 or 2014.
CHIME members who are versed in the intricacies of the evolving federal program to incentivize the installation of EHRs caution that much remains unknown about how the federal program will operate. Even though the Ann Arbor Mich.-based organization timed its survey to occur a few weeks after the July 13 release of the final regulations covering meaningful use objectives, top IT executives are still figuring out the nuances of the program, and many details remain unknown.
The survey found that expectations vary depending on the type of healthcare organization and its size. For example, 38 percent of CIO respondents from academic medical centers expect to qualify for stimulus funding within the first six months, compared with only 22 percent of CIOs at community hospitals. In general, executives of larger organizations say they are more likely to qualify for funding within six months, compared with responses from smaller facilities, according to CHIME.
While respondents generally predict a high degree of success in qualifying for stimulus funding, only two-thirds of respondents from hospitals with 100 to 199 beds anticipate getting funding within the first two fiscal years that the Stage 1 criteria are in effect. By contrast, nearly all respondents from facilities with 600 to 999 beds expect to qualify for stimulus funding within the first two years of the program, CHIME stated.
The survey found that more IT executives are concerned about the certification program that will approve applications for use by providers seeking to participate in the program. About a quarter of respondents cited concerns directly or indirectly related to certification.
The objective specifying the use of computerized provider order entry (CPOE) by provider organizations was the second most frequently mentioned concern. Also ranking high as a concern is capturing and submitting data on quality measures. Fewer than 10 percent of respondents said they had no concerns about their ability to achieve stimulus fund payments.
Other findings include:
The CHIME survey can be accessed here.
Of the 152 CIOs who responded to the CHIME survey, 28 percent indicated that they expect to qualify for stimulus funding in the first six months of fiscal year 2011, which begins on Oct. 1. An additional 62 percent reported that they expect to qualify between April 1, 2011, and Sept. 30, 2012, which marks the end of Stage 1 of the incentive program. Only 10 percent believe they will not qualify for stimulus funds until fiscal years 2013 or 2014.
CHIME members who are versed in the intricacies of the evolving federal program to incentivize the installation of EHRs caution that much remains unknown about how the federal program will operate. Even though the Ann Arbor Mich.-based organization timed its survey to occur a few weeks after the July 13 release of the final regulations covering meaningful use objectives, top IT executives are still figuring out the nuances of the program, and many details remain unknown.
The survey found that expectations vary depending on the type of healthcare organization and its size. For example, 38 percent of CIO respondents from academic medical centers expect to qualify for stimulus funding within the first six months, compared with only 22 percent of CIOs at community hospitals. In general, executives of larger organizations say they are more likely to qualify for funding within six months, compared with responses from smaller facilities, according to CHIME.
While respondents generally predict a high degree of success in qualifying for stimulus funding, only two-thirds of respondents from hospitals with 100 to 199 beds anticipate getting funding within the first two fiscal years that the Stage 1 criteria are in effect. By contrast, nearly all respondents from facilities with 600 to 999 beds expect to qualify for stimulus funding within the first two years of the program, CHIME stated.
The survey found that more IT executives are concerned about the certification program that will approve applications for use by providers seeking to participate in the program. About a quarter of respondents cited concerns directly or indirectly related to certification.
The objective specifying the use of computerized provider order entry (CPOE) by provider organizations was the second most frequently mentioned concern. Also ranking high as a concern is capturing and submitting data on quality measures. Fewer than 10 percent of respondents said they had no concerns about their ability to achieve stimulus fund payments.
Other findings include:
- Relaxed standards for qualifying for stimulus funding will have little to no impact on improving providers’ chances, according to 75 percent of the respondents; and
- About 40 percent of respondents say they are well-positioned to achieve meaningful use with their current IT strategy and existing applications, but slightly more than half say they are accelerating their plans to implement EHRs or otherwise re-evaluating current HIT applications to obtain funding.
The CHIME survey can be accessed here.