CRISP Launches Web Portal With Health Technology, Meaningful Use Resources for Maryland Physicians

BALTIMORE, July 14 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --The Chesapeake Regional Information System for our Patients (CRISP), a private, non-profit organization whose mission is to provide safer, more timely, efficient, effective, equitable, patient-centered health care to all Marylanders through health information technology,  today announced the re-launch of its website, www.crisphealth.org.  The announcement is timed to coincide with the release of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services' final rule on the "meaningful use" of health information technology (HIT).  By becoming meaningful users of HIT, physicians and other health care providers throughout the country can capitalize on more than $18 billion in Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement incentives to subsidize the adoption of electronic health records (EHRs).  Incentives can total around $40,000 to $60,000 per provider depending on the type of practice and participation.  

"Assisting the physician community in achieving meaningful use is critical to transforming our health care delivery system in the state of Maryland," said David Horrocks, President of CRISP.  "Only by enabling technology at the individual physician and practice level can we achieve the full promise, in terms of both outcomes and cost, of health information technology."

In addition to supporting CRISP's work implementing Maryland's health information exchange, the new www.crisphealth.org is a comprehensive source of unbiased information on meaningful use and HIT incentives for Maryland's health care provider community.  Physicians and practice managers can find resources to help them select the EHR technology and implementation service package that best fits their practices' needs.  

In its capacity as Maryland's regional extension center for health information technology, a program funded through the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act to assist physicians with the transition to EHRs, CRISP is working to ensure that the solutions featured on its website are certified, compliant with meaningful use, and are implemented in a fashion that meets industry best practices.  For many primary care practices, CRISP may also be able to offer subsidized EHRimplementation support through management services organizations, or MSOs.  

CRISP has partnered with MedChi, The Maryland State Medical Society, to provide outreach and education on EHRs to clinicians throughout Maryland.  MedChi will help clinicians navigate the process of selecting a vendor, "going live," and everything in between.  

"Physicians are faced with a unique opportunity to capitalize on federal incentives and adopt technology to bring better care to their patients, but there is currently a lot of confusion in the marketplace," said Gene Ransom III, Chief Executive Officer of MedChi.  "MedChi and CRISP are working together to provide a source of reliable information about health information technology and EHRs."

To learn whether your practice qualifies for subsidized EHR implementation support, please visit www.crisphealth.org.

About CRISP

CRISP is a private, non-profit organization whose mission is to provide safer, more timely, efficient, effective, equitable, patient-centered health care to all Marylanders through health information technology.  With support from a broad coalition of stakeholders in the state's government, healthcare and technology sectors, CRISP has been designated Maryland's statewide health information exchange (HIE) by the Maryland Health Care Commission; the HIE is currently being deployed.  CRISP is also serving as the regional extension center for health information technology for the state of Maryland; the program's goal is to assist 1,000 Maryland priority primary care providers in becoming meaningful users of HIT by 2012.  CRISP is supported through the state's unique all-payor rate setting system and with federal grant funding.

SOURCE Chesapeake Regional Information System for our Patients