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August 09, 2010

iHealthBeat

Bills Address EHR Incentive Pay for Hospitals, Mental Health Care

Last week, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) introduced a bill (S 3709) that would extend federal electronic health record incentive payments to mental health care providers, The Hill's "Healthwatch" reports.

Under the 2009 federal economic stimulus package, hospitals and physicians who demonstrate "meaningful use" of EHRs can qualify for incentive payments through Medicaid and Medicare.

Supporters of the bill say the new health reform law excludes mental health care workers, preventing them from receiving incentive payments for the meaningful use of EHRs.

The bill would provide incentive payments to health care providers in several areas:

  • Behavioral health;
  • Mental health; and
  • Treatment for substance misuse (Lillis, "Healthwatch," The Hill, 8/6).

In April, Reps. Patrick Kennedy (D-R.I.) and Tim Murphy (R-Pa.) introduced a similar bill in the House of Representatives (iHealthBeat, 4/16).

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[Click on Mental Health Stimulus Extension to read more and comment.]