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Medicare EHR Demonstration Project Discontinued - Update as of 4/14/09

The DCMS has confirmed that the the Medicare EHR Demonstration research project, awarded to Northeast Florida last summer for implementation in Summer 2009, has been discontinued.  The details explaining this decision are can be found in this linked announcement by the CMS.  The DCMS Health Information Technology Committee finds this to be positive news due to redundant funding being allocated for EHR implementation as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).  The HIT Committee will be working with a local interest groups through the Northeast Florida Health Information Consortium (NEFHIC) to assist physicians in obtaining funding from the stimulus dollars to promote EHR adoption. 

More information regarding this issue will be forthcoming; however, any questions can be directed to the DCMS by emailing  jmillson@dcmsonline.org.
 


Initial Announcement of EHR Demonstration Project

Northeast Florida selected to participate in Electronic Health Records Demonstration Project

The Duval County Medical Society (DCMS) is pleased to report that Northeast Florida has been selected as one of 12 regions throughout the country to be a site for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ Electronic Health Records Demonstration Project. The selection was made possible because of the collaboration and support of many local organizations including the DCMS and neighboring county medical societies (Clay, Nassau, Putnam, and St. Johns), the DCHD, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida, the Northeast Florida Regional Health Organization, and Availity, LLC. 

Approximately 200 local primary care physician practices will be eligible to participate in an electronic health record-based quality improvement study which aims to improve the health of Medicare patients and provide up to 12 million dollars in economic benefits to the community.  The project emphasizes the use of electronic health records and financial incentives for physicians to utilize proven methods of optimal care for Medicare beneficiaries.

For more information about the Medicare EHR Demonstration Grant, click on the following links:

CMS Demonstration Website - updated with new information, particularly related to the Phase 1 demonstration sites.

Demonstration Project Summary  - an excellent tool for those who want more details about the project (i.e. incentive payments, recruitment timelines, quality measures to report on, etc.).

Recruitment of physician practices will begin in mid 2009.  Physicians and practices interested in participating in the demonstration should contact Jay Millson (jmillson@dcmsonline.org or 353-7536).