California health care providers have received more than $743 million in federal incentive payments for using electronic health records, the Sacramento Business Journal reports (Robertson, Sacramento Business Journal, 9/14).
Under the 2009 federal economic stimulus package, health care providers who demonstrate meaningful use of certified electronic health record systems can qualify for Medicaid and Medicare incentive payments (California Healthline, 8/24).
According to Capital Public Radio's "KXJZ News," about 18,000 providers in the state have received the incentive payments (Bartolone, "KXJZ News," Capital Public Radio, 9/14).
Pamela Lane -- deputy secretary of health information exchange at the state Health and Human Services Agency -- in a news release said that the benefits of the meaningful use program "are much more than economic for California providers and patients," adding, "Ultimately, the quality of care for millions of patients will be better and lives will be saved as vital health information becomes more accessible and is securely shared among providers" (Sacramento Business Journal, 9/14).