U.S. Sen. Whitehouse Reintroduces Bill To Extend EHR Pay to Mental, Behavioral Health Care Providers
Last week, U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) reintroduced a bill (S 3709) that would make mental health care, behavioral health care and substance misuse treatment professionals and facilities eligible for incentive payments for the meaningful use of electronic health records. Under the 2009 federal economic stimulus package, health care providers who demonstrate meaningful use of certified EHR systems can qualify for Medicaid and Medicare incentive payments. Whitehouse said the bill "will extend to mental and behavioral health professionals the same assistance given to other health providers, which will help them invest in vital health information technology."
- "Sen. Whitehouse Says HIE Will Pay Back in Ways We Can't Imagine" (Sullivan, Government Health IT, 9/18).