Allscripts introduces Allscripts Stimulus Program for physicians

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Jan 11 2010

Allscripts (Nasdaq: MDRX) today introduced the Allscripts Stimulus Program, making it safe and easy for physicians to purchase and rapidly deploy Electronic Health Records that will qualify for significant federal incentives.

The Allscripts Stimulus Program provides physicians with a guarantee that the Allscripts EHR they select will meet the EHR certification criteria provided by the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Physicians also will benefit from a new Allscripts financing program providing no payments for software for the first six months on purchases of its Electronic Health Record solutions, as well as new programs focused on faster implementations.

The announcement of the Allscripts Electronic Health Record guarantee follows the December 30th release of an HHS interim final rule that defines the criteria by which Electronic Health Record systems will be certified under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The law requires physicians to demonstrate their "meaningful use" of a certified Electronic Health Record in order to claim between $44,000 and $64,000 in Medicare and Medicaid stimulus incentives, which first become available in 2011.

"We have the best physicians and caregivers in the world. The goal of this program is to drive the adoption and use of Electronic Health Records to provide physicians with real-time information on best practices and connect them with the other healthcare stakeholders who are key to delivering an integrated, high quality and cost effective patient experience," said Glen Tullman, Chief Executive Officer of Allscripts. "Now that we have a very strong indication of what HHS will require for electronic health record certification, Allscripts is making it safe and easy for physicians to adopt and use EHRs through our guarantee, financing and rapid implementation programs, helping to ensure that our physicians are able to take advantage of the ARRA incentives. In addition, our advanced management reporting capabilities will provide our physicians with the tools they need to proactively manage their patient panels, qualifying for Pay-For-Quality programs and participating in new treatment protocols like the Medical Home."

The new HHS criteria specify, in part, that certified Electronic Health Records must:

Allow patients to access clinical information;
Transmit prescriptions electronically, as well as checking for drug-to-drug and drug-to-allergy interactions
Comply with state and federal privacy, security and data sharing regulations;
Document patient progress and provide clinical summaries;
Exchange critical information with other care providers using certified EHRs;
Send patient reminders about follow-up and preventive care;
Submit immunization and laboratory data to relevant public health registries; and
Use computerized physician order entry systems to record clinically relevant orders

While the issuance from HHS officially constitutes an "interim final rule" that conceivably could change following public comment, federal agencies rarely alter such interim final rules. The EHR certification criteria become law in February and are expected to be finalized in the April timeframe after comments are considered.

The new financing program introduced today by Allscripts is designed to help physicians who want to qualify for the ARRA incentives but are concerned about the initial capital outlay. Beginning immediately, Allscripts will offer the program on all new purchases of its Electronic Health Record solutions, enabling its clients to obtain financing from Allscripts preferred banking partners. Physicians can elect to make no payments on software for up to six months, followed by monthly payments over the time period that works best for them. At the end of the term, they own the software.

"Our financing program is simple, easy and exactly what physician practices want and need," said Mr. Tullman. "And, when you combine it with the Allscripts Meaningful Use Guarantee, physicians can be confident that they are getting the right EHR with the right guarantee at the right price."

Under the Allscripts Guarantee, the Company will waive up to 12 months of a client's monthly support fees if their Allscripts Electronic Health Record fails to meet the HHS EHR certification criteria.

Webcasts to Clarify Meaningful Use Requirements of Physicians

Allscripts will host three upcoming webcasts for physicians and other interested healthcare professionals to help explain the 692-page HHS "meaningful use" rule. Attendees can expect to learn what they need to do to prepare for the incentive program, and how Allscripts can help.

The webcasts will be presented at the following times: