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Medicare vs Medicaid - Is There Really A Difference?

It is true.  CMS is offering two EHR incentive programs - one for Medicare and one for Medicaid providers. For those providers that see both Medicare and Medicaid members - don't get too excited - this does not mean you can apply for two incentive payments.  Infact, you can only apply for one and depending on which one you choose, it may then disqualify you from being able to receive incentive payments from other programs.  Figuring out which one best suits your office practice can definitely be confusing and time consuming.  The good news is that you have up until 2015 to figure out which program best fits your office practice.   The bad news is that each program is different in what is defined as meeting "Meaningful Use" in order to achieve your payment incentive.  Medicare, because it is federally funded, has regulations set by CMS as to what "Meaningful Use" of an EHR system means to qualify for an incentive payment.  This does not vary state to state.  However, because Medicaid is state funded, what is meant by "Meaningful Use" will vary state to state.  Before choosing which program to apply for, you really need to be knowledgeable about what is involved and what it could mean for your office practice. To learn more about the differences in the Medicare and Medicaid EHR programs, click here .

QCS offers tool kits that explain both the Medicare and Medicaid EHR incentive programs in great detail and guide you in the process for applying for both incentive programs.  To learn more or purchase one of these tool kits, click here

QCS offers an online evaluation to suggest which, if any, of the EHR incentive programs may be right for you.  To learn more about our Medicare-Medicaid Incentive Program Evaluation, click here