Overview

NEPO Health Information Technology Resource Center
The purpose of NEPO Health Information Technology (HIT) Resource Center is to provide NEPO physicians with the tools and resource information needed when considering whether or not to implement an electronic health record (EHR) system.

Background
In February of 2009, the American and Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) made available $19 billion for Health Information Technology (HIT) with a lot of the funding directed to physicians to subsidize the purchase and usage of EHR systems that will help improve health care delivery and patient care.  In 2011, qualifying providers can receive an incentive up to $44,000 under the Medicare program and qualifying Medi-Cal providers can receive up to $65,000.  To receive these incentives, providers must implement an EHR and demonstrate "meaningful use" of their EHR. Practices and groups that already have EHR systems can still qualify for these funds as long as they achieve "meaningful use."