HIXNY Named Outreach Agent by New York eHealth Collaborative (NYeC)

Will Assist Eligible Primary Care Providers to Adopt Health Information Technology

And Obtain Federal Funding Incentives

 

 

ALBANY, NY (June 14, 2010) -Healthcare Information Xchange of New York (HIXNY), a community-based,  not-for-profit regional health information organization (RHIO) whose members include physician organizations, hospitals and health plans announced today that it has been named an Outreach Agent by the New York eHealth Collaborative (NYeC) for its Regional Extension Center program. As an Outreach Agent, HIXNY will provide services to eligible primary care providers in the greater Capital Region and Northern New York in their efforts to adopt health information technology and become eligible for federal incentives of up to $63,750 from Medicaid and up to $44,000 from Medicare.

 

As part of the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009, commonly referred to as the "Stimulus Bill", funding is available to assist primary care providers in adopting health information technology such as electronic health records (EHRs) to enable new models of patient centered care that improves practices, healthcare delivery to patients and overall population health. $48.2 million in federal grants have been slated for healthcare providers in New York State and are available to providers that become certified as meaningful users of EHRs. 

 

Eligible primary care providers include physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants practicing in primary care specialties including family practice, internal medicine, general practice, OB-GYN, and pediatrics. The providers must provide care in practices with 10 or less providers or practice in a federally-qualified health center, public or critical access hospital, or primarily serve medically underserved populations.

 

As an Outreach Agent, HIXNY will help eligible primary care providers enroll in a program designed to identify, implement and use electronic health records in clinical practice and meet the federal government's criteria for the "meaningful use" of certified electronic health record technology.

 

Eligible primary care providers can participate in one of two offerings:

  • Full service offering - This is available to practices that are currently using paper-based medical records and require assistance in the selection and implementation of an EHR and need assistance achieving "meaningful use" certification.
  • "Meaningful Use" certification only - This is designed for practices that have already implemented an EHR system and need assistance achieving "meaningful use".

The transition from a paper-based healthcare record system requires time, resources and expertise and physician practices are challenged to make the investment and transition. HIXNY will provide the connection to resources, training, and funding to bring health information technology to those who need it the most. In fact, the Regional Extension Center program will provide expert consultation, workflow analysis, project management, staff training, and technical assistance in addition to access to financial reimbursements.

 

"HIXNY can bring great value to primary care physician practices by giving them access to the expert technology consulting services they need to improve patient care and efficiency," stated Dominick Bizzarro, HIXNY CEO. "We will provide the education and connection to resources to make the transition to health information technology attainable and more affordable."

 

Primary care providers interested in learning more about EHR adoption, enrolling in the Regional Extension Center program, and qualifying for federal incentives should contact HIXNY at (518) 357-3689 or email infoREC@hixny.org.