CMS Provides Guidance to States on How to Obtain Federal Health IT Funds

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) sent a letter on Tuesday to State Medicaid directors letting them know how States can receive the federal matching funds for incentive payments distributed to Medicaid providers who  successfully implement EHR systems meeting the meaningful use criteria.

According to the letter:  “A State must, at a minimum, demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Secretary compliance with three requirements:

• Administration of Medicaid incentive payments to Medicaid EPs and eligible hospitals;
• Oversight of the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program, including routine tracking of meaningful use attestations and reporting mechanisms; and
• Pursuit of initiatives that encourage the adoption of certified EHR technology for the promotion of health care quality and the electronic exchange of health information.”

A PDF version of the 19 page letter regarding Federal Funding for Medicaid HIT Activities can be downloaded here.