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2 responses to "Healthcare Reforms Impact on EMR"

1. # Evan Steele commented on March 29th, 2010:

   Healthcare Reform will flood the system with 32 million more patients in search of healthcare. These newly insured patients plus the 79 million aging baby boomers, the first of which will turn 65 next year, will mean that only the practices that can successfully manage the tidal wave of new patients AND provide enhanced patient care WHILE increasing physician productivity and office and clinical workflow efficiencies will survive and emerge as winners. Those EMR companies that enable physicians to achieve these goals will also be the winners.

2. # Jim Hook commented on March 29th, 2010:

   Evan’s right about the “tidal wave” aspect, but it will be a slow-motion wave since it will take a few years before the 32 million are added to plans, and baby-boomers of this generation may be somewhat healthier than those of the past (speculation, but probably the correct trend).

   Another incentivizing item in the legislation includes the requirement for physicians to participate in PQRI or face reductions in Medicare payments; this is much easier in an EMR environment. There are also grants to increase use of EMR systems in long-term care facilities and incentives for payers and providers to use IT to improve healthcare outcomes.

   These things are not quite as dramatic as direct incentives for meaningful use, but every little bit will help!