To: Open-source EMR developers Fr: Dan Johnson md Re: CMS DOC-IT project
This is something you should know about. Beginning in the fall of 2005, CMS will require all state PROs (Professional Review Organizations) to offer assistance to physician offices in choosing EHR software that meets the requirements of CMS, assistance with using such software to improve office efficiency, and assistance in redeploying office "resources" to improve chronic-desease management. It is my understanding that CMS will not *require* physician offices to "go electronic" but that those who do will receive a small fee bonus. The requirements are being developed through the DOC-IT project, led by the California PRO. Currently three state PROs are beginnning participation as "pilot states" and approximately in November a national pilot project will become available to all state PROs. In July, the California PRO will be having a meeting with vendors to outline the technical requirements or characteristics of this project. I have contacted the person leading this project at CMS, who is interested in knowing more about open-source EHR development efforts. I have promised him a summary reply by Thursday 6/10. If you are leading or participating in an EHR open-development effort and think you may want to be part of this action, please contact me PRIVATELY to give me permission to pass the particulars of your project on to CMS. I would be helped if you would indicate at least: - how many practice sites your application is currently supporting - whether you provide paid technical support to users - whether your application supports billing - whether your application supports any lab interfaces - how many developers are actively participating in your project - whether your application includes any paradigms that support quality assurance data-gathering (e.g., statistics or prompts regarding disease-specific practice guidelines). - (please exclude marketing-type statements; those aren't suitable at this time) I am asking for you to do this because the time I have available to dig this information out by myself is limited, and I can get it it CMS more quickly if I merely have to edit. meaning I can get information back to y'all more quickly as well. Thanks very much. Dan Johson md
