Source Date: September 8, 2009
CMS recently released guidance to states on the implementation of the Health IT provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) in the form of a State Medicaid Director letter.
According to the letter, signed by Cindy Mann, Director of CMSO, the key points that Medicaid Directors should focus on are:
- States may immediately request 90% FFP match for administrative planning activities and should submit and receive approval of a HIT Planning Advance Planning Document prior to initiating planning activities and expending funds;
- States should contact their CMS regional office for further guidance and continue with on-going communication while initiating planning activities;
- States should view Medicaid planning activities as part of the larger evolving Statewide HIT efforts; and
- Planning activities are for the purposes of administering the incentive payments to providers, ensuring their proper payments, and auditing and monitoring of such payments, and participating in Statewide efforts to promote interoperability and meaningful use of electronic health records.
To read the full letter and relevant attachments, visit htttp://www.cms.hhs.gov/Recovery/11_HealthIT.asp.
Sellers Dorsey can help states and state HIT vendors establish Medicaid incentive payment programs and related 'meaningful use' initiatives to align with the state's HIT strategic plan and comply with all federal guidelines, further state MMIS functionality, and advance quality improvement projects, payment reforms and performance measures.
For more information, contact rpederson@sellersdorsey.com.