News: Frequently Asked Questions About the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

Developed by the AAP Departments of Practice and Federal Affairs


Pediatricians have many questions about the impact of the incentives available through
the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) to support the adoption
of health information technology. While many of the details will need to be determined
through the regulatory process, AAP staff has developed the following FAQs to provide
answers to some of the most common questions.

1. Q: Is it true that the economic stimulus package includes financial incentives for
both Medicare and Medicaid providers?
A: Yes, the economic stimulus package does contain financial incentives through
both Medicare and Medicaid.

2. Q: Who will qualify for Medicaid incentives for health information technology
adoption:
A: Pediatricians will need to have at least a 20% Medicaid patient population in order
to qualify for incentives through this program. The legislation does not indicate how
this percentage is to be calculated: per physician, per practice, or by some other
means. These details will likely be addressed as part of the regulatory process in the
coming months.
     Please note that the AAP also advocates for financial incentives through private
payers, but that was not addressed in this particular legislation. The AAP will
continue to advocate for financial support to help pediatricians move toward health
information technology adoption.

3. Q: How soon can I receive my share of the Medicaid incentives?
A: Incentives will not begin until 2011, and will likely provide reimbursement for
some of the practice's cost post-implementation. So you'll need to adopt an electronic
health record (EHR) first in order to qualify for the incentives.
     The AAP has several resources available to help its members select and implement an
EHR. Please see below for more information.

4. Q: Are there any restrictions on which EHRs will qualify for incentives?
A: It is likely that physicians will need to demonstrate that they have implemented a
“certified” EHR in order to qualify for the incentives. The exact definition of
“certified” will have to be determined through the regulatory process, but this may
refer to EHRs that have been certified through the Certification Commission on
Health Information Technology. You can find out more information at
www.cchit.org. The AAP also encourages its members to look for vendors that have
the CCHIT's Child Health add-on certification
     In addition, healthcare providers will need to implement “meaningfully useful” health
information technology, and the EHR must permit some form of health information
exchange. Once again, the exact requirements will need to be determined via the
regulatory process. The AAP will closely monitor ongoing developments and provide
feedback to the US Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for
Medicare and Medicaid Services when feasible.
     Each year at the National Conference & Exhibition (NCE), the AAP Council on
Clinical Information Technology sponsors a Pediatric Documentation Challenge. This
event provides pediatricians with the opportunity to see several EHRs in action. If
you are planning to attend this year’s NCE in Washington, DC, please plan to attend
the Pediatric Documentation Challenge to see how available EHRs handle a typical
pediatric office visit.

5. Q: What resources are available to help me choose an EHR?
A: The AAP has many resources available to help its members implement an EHR.
These include:

For more information regarding ARRA or available resources for selecting and
implementing an EHR, please contact Beki Marshall at 800/433-9016, ext 4089 or
bmarshall@aap.org.