The Numbers Are In!

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced in mid-December 2014, that more than 257,000 doctors (Eligible Providers) will see a 1% cut in their Medicare reimbursements in 2015 for failing to adopt an electronic health record and meet the requirements of the Meaningful Use program. Further, 28,000 of those doctors face a 2% reduction in Medicare reimbursements in 2015 for failing to meet the requirements of both the meaningful use program and the electronic prescribing program, which requires physicians to use e-prescribing technology. CMS also said about 200 hospitals will similarly face a reduction in Medicare reimbursements in 2015 for failing to participate in the meaningful use program. The penalties affect Medicare claims beginning January 5, 2015. Background- Since 2011, CMS has paid more than $25.7 billion in Medicare and Medicaid incentive payments to hospitals and doctors that adopted EHR systems and met requirements of the meaningful use program. The program's penalty phase, which levies a 1% reduction in Medicare reimbursements each year that a provider doesn't successfully participate, begins in 2015.

Forbes source: http://www.forbes.com/sites/brucejapsen/2014/12/18/257000-doctors-will-get-medicare-pay-cut-for-using-paper-records/