Doctors Soon To Be Awash In Penalty Tsunami

Diana Manos | Government Health IT | June 23, 2014

WASHINGTON – Anyone under the impression that doctors don’t like technology in general might be mistaken. Rather, what many share distaste for is meaningful use. That’s according to Mari Savickis, assistant director of federal affairs at the American Medical Association, who claimed that most physicians, at least among AMA’s membership, are actually embracing technology...

Right now, a scant majority (59 percent) of eligible providers who are registered for the federal EHR incentive program have actually achieved meaningful use, according to Savackis. And 50 percent of Medicare doctors are at risk for penalties next year under the program. “That’s tough. That’s really tough,” Savackis said. “It’s pretty obvious physicians are struggling with Stage 1.”...

To add insult to injury, meaningful use isn’t the only place doctors face upcoming penalties. There is also the Value Based Payment Modifier, mandated under the Affordable Care Act, which will begin enacting penalties in 2015, and this is tied to the Physician Quality Reporting System. And, doctors who hope to avoid penalties by participating in an accountable care organization won’t find relief, she warns. That won’t “inoculate” a doctor from penalties...