Federal dollars flowing to hospitals, physicians and other eligible healthcare professionals under the federal electronic health-record incentive payment program have topped $28.1 billion, the latest CMS data show.
Through December 4,740 hospitals, or 95% of the 4,993 hospitals deemed eligible for participation in the program, have been paid, sharing $17.4 billion.
Also, 426,597 physicians and other “EPs”, or more than 79% of the 537,600 who are eligible, have received $10.7 billion.
Total payments surged by about $2 billion over November numbers, in part because physicians and other professionals needed to meet their meaningful-use targets by the end of the calendar year.
The program was created under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to encourage adoption and meaningful use of health information technology.
Payments began in 2011.
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