CMS Data: Providers Have Received $15.5B in EHR Incentive Payments

As of the end of June, more than $15.5 billion in EHR Incentive Program payments have been paid out by the federal government to eligible providers and hospitals in the program, according to the most recent data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

The 4,024 participating hospitals have received $9.2 billion of that amount, earning $5.3 billion in the 2012 program year alone. In 2013, hospitals have earned $722 million. In addition, 305,778 physicians and other eligible professionals have been paid more than $6.3 billion the CMS report said.

Also as of June, 197,647 physicians and eligible professionals have received EHR incentive payments from Medicare, while 95,461 have received payments from Medicaid and 12,670 from Medicare Advantage under programs created by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Medicare and Medicare Advantage eligible professionals include physicians, optometrists, podiatrists, chiropractors and dentists. Medicaid eligible professionals are physicians, dentists, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and certified nurse-midwives.