The rule clarifies the requirements physicians must satisfy to earn financial incentives for automating and connecting their practices under the HITECH Act, part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. The final rule was accompanied by a second rule setting standards, implementation specifications, and certification criteria for EHR technology in an effort to help physicians ensure their purchases will deliver the value the rule is designed to drive.

"Allscripts, representing our many clients, was pleased to be a participant in the Agency's development of the final rule, and believes that clear guidance can only help accelerate the use of information technology, which will ultimately transform the way healthcare is delivered," said Glen Tullman, Chief Executive Officer of Allscripts. "This is a milestone for our industry and one that sends a clear message to physicians. The tipping point is here and the time to act is now. Physicians can make informed buying decisions with a clear view into what exactly will be required of them and the Electronic Health Record vendor they select. As the market leader, Allscripts is confident that our solutions will be certified to meet or exceed the standards set by the final rule, and we look forward to helping our clients achieve meaningful use and, more importantly, meaningful value from the use of their electronic health record."

Signed into law by President Obama on February 17, 2009, the HITECH Act authorizes the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to provide a reimbursement incentive for physician and hospital providers who demonstrate the "meaningful use" of an Electronic Health Record. The incentive payments - ranging from $44,000 to $64,000 per physician over five years - begin in 2011 and gradually phase down before penalties for non-EHR use are applied in 2015.

The final rule on meaningful use can be found online at: http://www.ofr.gov/OFRUpload/OFRData/2010-17207_PI.pdf

The final rule on standards, implementation specifications, and certification criteria for EHR technology can be found online at: http://www.ofr.gov/OFRUpload/OFRData/2010-17210_PI.pdf

Allscripts Stimulus Roadmap Webcast
Allscripts will host a webcast at 10 a.m. Central Time on Thursday, July 15, 2010 to review the final rule and provide a roadmap for physician practices hoping to qualify for ARRA incentive payments.

To register for the webcast, follow this link: http://www.allscripts.com/muwebcast715.

Later this month, Allscripts will host a series of more in-depth sessions on the Meaningful Use rules. To register for any of those sessions, follow this link: http://www.allscripts.com/muwebcastseries.

About Allscripts
Allscripts uses innovation technology to bring health to healthcare. More than 160,000 physicians, 800 hospitals and more than 10,000 post-acute and homecare organizations utilize Allscripts to improve the health of their patients and their bottom line. The company's award-winning solutions include electronic health records, electronic prescribing, revenue cycle management, practice management, document management, care management, emergency department information systems and homecare automation. Allscripts is the brand name of AllscriptsMisys Healthcare Solutions, Inc. To learn more, visit http://www.allscripts.com.