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Office Ally Stages Intensive Internal Audit for Meaningful Use

Office Ally, which provides a number of FREE solutions, including a web-based practice management system and a clearinghouse, has conducted an internal audit based on preliminary data available from the government to ensure its software meets the current proposed guidelines. Adding weight to the validity of its internal audit, Office Ally is offering a 100% money-back guarantee to clients if its product-for any reason-does not meet meaningful use guidelines.

Office Ally's internal audit confirmed that its EHR platform, EHR 24/7, provided all of the features currently finalized for meaningful use, including:

• Provides e-prescribing
• Records and charts changes in patients' vital signs
• Records demographics
• Incorporates lab tests
• Generates and transmits prescriptions
• Provides necessary reports for the government in an electronic or other approved format
• Submits claims to public or private payors
• Exchanges clinical information in CCD and HL7 formats

"It's a tricky time for providers," notes Brian O'Neill, president of Office Ally. "Many are ready to move forward with selecting an EHR vendor, but most are very hesitant to make an investment without some assurances that the vendor selected will be able to help them meet meaningful use. Our intensive internal audit, covering a wide range of criteria, provides physicians and other providers with the assurances they must have before making a decision about a qualified meaningful use vendor. In fact, we believe so strongly in our ability to meet meaningful use guidelines when they are finalized, that we are standing behind our promise with a money-back guarantee."

Vendors are also anxious for the final guidelines and, more importantly, the certifying agencies to be announced. Providers need to ensure that their vendor's system is certified by an approved agency in order to qualify for meaningful use stimulus dollars. The current date for finalization of guidelines and approval of agencies to certify vendors is set for this fall.

To further assist providers, Office Ally has developed a "Must-Do Checklist" they can use to ensure they are ready for, and can take full advantage of meaningful use standards, as soon as the final criteria are announced.

1. Find out how much meeting the guidelines will really cost your practice in terms of price, as well as operating costs. Remember it's not just purchasing the EHR technology, but also the implementation, time spent training and ongoing customer service, etc. Some vendors charge up to $30,000 for their software and up to $800 per month for service. Office Ally's EHR 24/7 is $29.95 per physician. Training and 24/7 service are free. Don't let cost be the factor that inhibits your moving forward with adopting this technology.

2. Train and train again. If you currently have an EHR, chances are your vendor is making upgrades that may change how certain functions work. Many vendors may charge you to learn their new upgrades. If you don't have an EHR, make sure to set aside enough time for training and implementation. Look for vendors that offer training for free, as costs can add up quickly.

3. Understand the key tenets, guidelines and regulations under meaningful use. It's the only way to ensure that you secure the maximum benefits and incentives offered for meaningful use of EHR. Providers eligible to receive incentives include those caring for Medicare and Medicaid patients in ambulatory environments. Hospital-based physicians are ineligible. Note that Medicaid patient volume must be greater than, or equal to, 30 percent of the practice.

4. Do the math. Medicare incentives compensate meaningful EHR users with an amount equal to an additional 75 percent of the allowed charge for professional services. Incentives are paid out in increments; do not expect a check for $44,000 on day one. To receive the highest incentives - $63,750 over a six year period - 70 percent of a group's patient base must be Medicaid. To secure $44,000 in reimbursement, 75 percent of claims must be Medicare. The first checks will be sent January 2011 (for groups that showed meaningful use compliance in October of the previous year). Medicare groups will receive an initial check of $18,000 and Medicaid groups a check for $21,250.

5. Keep great records. Meaningful use will require extra record keeping. For example, counting paper and electronic scripts to calculate a percentage of electronic prescriptions. All this is going to take time and money, impacting productivity and profitability. Look for technologies that are low cost (and provide free training and support) and that can help you with the additional record keeping. If not, even with incentives, practices can be at risk for losing money.

6. Ensure you can provide and file the proper reports. To be certified for meaningful use, technology vendors must show they can help provide the proper reports to send annually to CMS. For example, providers must submit Medicare Physician Quality Reports which cover risk assessments, screenings and specific interventions. Office Ally's software provides the tools to help physicians monitor and track the quality initiatives to be measured.

7. Be aware of penalties. Physicians who are not using EHR in a way that shows meaningful use will begin to see penalties in October of 2014. While that date may seem in the distant future, providers who drag their feet risk getting stuck with systems that don't fully meet their needs and could be more costly in the long run.

8. Remember the ultimate goal. The primary intent of meaningful use guidelines is improved productivity, profitability and patient outcomes. The right EHR system can help the nation and physicians turn the promise of EHR into a reality.

For additional information, go to:

http://www.officeally.com/Demo/MeaningfulUse.html

https://www.cms.gov/Recovery/11_HealthIT.asp

About Office Ally:

Office Ally is a national full service medical claims clearinghouse and electronic connectivity company based in Vancouver, Washington. The company offers effective free or low-cost IT services that help to lower health care costs and provide more efficiencies for physicians, payors, and patients, including medical claims filing, practice management, electronic medical records, and personal health records systems. For more information, visit www.officeally.com or call (866) 575-4120.

Scott Public Relations
Brenna Harrington
818-610-0270
brenna@scottpublicrelations.com