Allscripts Announces Rapid Implementation, 'Meaningful Use' Guarantee, and Financing Programs for Electronic Health Records

CHICAGO, Jan. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Allscripts (Nasdaq: MDRX) today introduced the Allscripts Stimulus Program, making it safe and easy for physicians to purchase and rapidly deploy Electronic Health Records that will qualify for significant federal incentives.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20081013/AQM041LOGO)

The Allscripts Stimulus Program provides physicians with a guarantee that the Allscripts EHR they select will meet the EHR certification criteria provided by the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Physicians also will benefit from a new Allscripts financing program providing no payments for software for the first six months on purchases of its Electronic Health Record solutions, as well as new programs focused on faster implementations.

The announcement of the Allscripts Electronic Health Record guarantee follows the December 30th release of an HHS interim final rule that defines the criteria by which Electronic Health Record systems will be certified under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The law requires physicians to demonstrate their "meaningful use" of a certified Electronic Health Record in order to claim between $44,000 and $64,000 in Medicare and Medicaid stimulus incentives, which first become available in 2011.

"We have the best physicians and caregivers in the world. The goal of this program is to drive the adoption and use of Electronic Health Records to provide physicians with real-time information on best practices and connect them with the other healthcare stakeholders who are key to delivering an integrated, high quality and cost effective patient experience," said Glen Tullman, Chief Executive Officer of Allscripts. "Now that we have a very strong indication of what HHS will require for electronic health record certification, Allscripts is making it safe and easy for physicians to adopt and use EHRs through our guarantee, financing and rapid implementation programs, helping to ensure that our physicians are able to take advantage of the ARRA incentives. In addition, our advanced management reporting capabilities will provide our physicians with the tools they need to proactively manage their patient panels, qualifying for Pay-For-Quality programs and participating in new treatment protocols like the Medical Home."

The new HHS criteria specify, in part, that certified Electronic Health Records must:

• Allow patients to access clinical information;
• Transmit prescriptions electronically, as well as checking for drug-to-drug and drug-to-allergy interactions
• Comply with state and federal privacy, security and data sharing regulations;
• Document patient progress and provide clinical summaries;
• Exchange critical information with other care providers using certified EHRs;
• Send patient reminders about follow-up and preventive care;
• Submit immunization and laboratory data to relevant public health registries; and
• Use computerized physician order entry systems to record clinically relevant orders

While the issuance from HHS officially constitutes an "interim final rule" that conceivably could change following public comment, federal agencies rarely alter such interim final rules. The EHR certification criteria become law in February and are expected to be finalized in the April timeframe after comments are considered.

The new financing program introduced today by Allscripts is designed to help physicians who want to qualify for the ARRA incentives but are concerned about the initial capital outlay. Beginning immediately, Allscripts will offer the program on all new purchases of its Electronic Health Record solutions, enabling its clients to obtain financing from Allscripts preferred banking partners. Physicians can elect to make no payments on software for up to six months, followed by monthly payments over the time period that works best for them. At the end of the term, they own the software.

"Our financing program is simple, easy and exactly what physician practices want and need," said Mr. Tullman. "And, when you combine it with the Allscripts Meaningful Use Guarantee, physicians can be confident that they are getting the right EHR with the right guarantee at the right price."

Under the Allscripts Guarantee, the Company will waive up to 12 months of a client's monthly support fees if their Allscripts Electronic Health Record fails to meet the HHS EHR certification criteria.

Webcasts to Clarify Meaningful Use Requirements of Physicians

Allscripts will host three upcoming webcasts for physicians and other interested healthcare professionals to help explain the 692-page HHS "meaningful use" rule. Attendees can expect to learn what they need to do to prepare for the incentive program, and how Allscripts can help.

The webcasts will be presented at the following times:

• Today at 1:00 pm EST
• Wednesday, January 13 at 12:00 pm EST
• Tuesday, January 19 at 7:00 pm EST

Attendees are asked to register in advance of the webcast by visiting: www.Allscripts.com/TheTimeIsNow.

About Allscripts

Allscripts uses innovation technology to bring health to healthcare. More than 160,000 physicians, 800 hospitals and nearly 8,000 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 Allscripts-Misys Healthcare Solutions, Inc. To learn more, visit www.allscripts.com.

For more Allscripts news, follow us on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/AllscriptsMisys

This news release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Statements regarding future events, developments, the Company's future performance, as well as management's expectations, beliefs, intentions, plans, estimates or projections relating to the future are forward-looking statements within the meaning of these laws. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, some of which are outlined below. As a result, actual results may vary materially from those anticipated by the forward-looking statements. Among the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements are: the volume and timing of systems sales and installations; length of sales cycles and the installation process; the possibility that products will not achieve or sustain market acceptance; the timing, cost and success or failure of new product and service introductions, development and product upgrade releases; competitive pressures including product offerings, pricing and promotional activities; our ability to establish and maintain strategic relationships; undetected errors or similar problems in our software products; compliance with existing laws, regulations and industry initiatives and future changes in laws or regulations in the healthcare industry; possible regulation of the Company's software by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration; the possibility of product-related liabilities; our ability to attract and retain qualified personnel; our ability to identify and complete acquisitions, manage our growth and integrate acquisitions; the ability to recognize the benefits of the merger with Misys Healthcare Systems, LLC ("MHS"); the integration of MHS with the Company and the possible disruption of current plans and operations as a result thereof; maintaining our intellectual property rights and litigation involving intellectual property rights; risks related to third-party suppliers; our ability to obtain, use or successfully integrate third-party licensed technology; breach of our security by third parties; and the risk factors detailed from time to time in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K available through the Web site maintained by the Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE Allscripts-Misys Healthcare Solutions, Inc.