Reporting Iowa's Successful Launch and Payments of Incentives!!

IME is thrilled to report its success as one of the first states to disburse EHR incentive payments to Iowa providers. As of January 11, 2012, Iowa has approved payment to 268 eligible professionals and hospitals totaling nearly $25.6 million.

The EHR Incentive Payment program allows Medicaid to pay eligible professionals (EPs) and eligible hospitals that adopt and meaningfully use certified electronic health record (EHR) technology.

IME is currently accepting applications for the incentive payment from qualfiied EPs and eligible hospitals. To find out if you qualify, click on the background and eligibility links!

Click here to access an FAQ document drafted specifically for Iowa's program.

If you are a Medicaid provider interested in learning more about the incentive payments, please send an email to imeincentives@dhs.state.ia.us or call Kelly Peiper, Medicaid HIT Provider Incentive Coordinator, at 515-974-3071 or Melissa Brown, EHR Incentive Program Specialist, at 515-974-3123.

Attestation Deadline: Click here to attest!

Payment years for eligible hospitals are based on the federal fiscal year. The 2011 federal fiscal year ended on September 30, 2011. Payment years for eligible professionals are based on the calendar year.

In alignment with the Medicare deadlines for attesting for a 2011 payment, Iowa has adopted the following timelines for applying for a year one payment in 2011:

• November 30, 2011 - Last day for eligible hospitals to register and attest to receive an incentive payment for federal fiscal year (FY) 2011.
• February 29, 2012 - Last day for elgible professionals to register and attest to receive an incentive payment for calendar year (CY) 2011.

Hospitals cannot apply for year two payments until April 1, 2012.