Late News: CMS report: EHR payments total almost $6.6 billion

According to the CMS' latest report, 3,884 hospitals and 267,221 physicians and other eligible professionals are now enrolled in the three federally funded electronic health-record system incentive payment programs. The numbers are based on data available through July. So far, the programs—created under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009—have paid out not quite $6.6 billion, with $4.2 billion going to hospitals and almost $2.4 billion to physicians and other eligible professionals, such as dentists, optometrists, podiatrists, chiropractors, nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives and certain physician assistants.

The Medicare and Medicaid EHR incentive programs have paid out remarkably similar amounts, with Medicare paying $3.27 billion and Medicaid paying $3.14 billion. In addition, more than $189 million has been paid to eligible professionals through Medicare Advantage organizations. Medicare Advantage is considered a separate program under the stimulus law. Of eligible professionals enrolled in the programs, roughly 48% have received incentive payments. Among enrolled hospitals, 93% have been paid.