Modernizing your medical practice software — including your electronic health records — shouldn’t force you to choose between early retirement and a giant upfront payment for a server-based system.
Also, watch out for EHR vendors with all-or-nothing agreements or who spring a bunch of hidden costs on you right after you commit. Instead, look for alternatives with more flexible choices, transparent EHR pricing and the ability to meet ongoing Federal requirements.
2015 is an important year, no matter what you think about these Federal actions. It’s the year Meaningful Use turns punitive. Eligible physicians yet to switch to 2014 certified EHR software face Medicare reimbursement penalties (officially, ‘payment adjustments).
Decisions to upgrade EHR and practice management software will also be at the forefront in 2015 with ICD-10 implementation in October.
Upfront costs combined with these financial challenges could overwhelm some practices, according to an NPR report. For example, installation and maintenance costs could prove too great for Dr. Oliver Korshin’s ophthalmology practice in East Anchorage, Alaska. The state medical association fears these challenges will drive many physicians to early retirement.
Software as a Service a.k.a. SaaS offers a potential solution. Some online health records, including cloud-based EHRs, allow physicians to “subscribe” and pay on a per-provider, per-month basis. These web-based vendors also handle most of the IT responsibilities.
For providers looking to offset some of the costs of EHR adoption and avoid Meaningful Use penalties, switching to the cloud may be their best move.
Do you know what you need when setting up a new medical practice?