Promoting Interoperability Programs (PI)

The Center for Mediaid and Medicare Servies (CMS) is dedicated to improving interoperability and patients’ access to health information. To better reflect this focus, we are renaming the Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs to the Promoting Interoperability (PI) Programs. Through this rulemaking, we are also streamlining the programs to reduce the time and cost required of providers to participate.

Electronic Health Records (EHR)

The single greatest opportunity for reducing costs and improving quality of health care is through efficiency. Physicians and other medical providers are in the process of converting paper health record systems to an EHR system. An EHR system is a digitalized software solution used for patient medical and billing recordkeeping. Records are generated and maintained within an institution, integrated delivery network, clinic or physician's office. Eligible providers with EHR systems may join a network for health information exchange (HIE) and digitized records will be available to be shared real time across different health care settings throughout the continuum of care wherever and whenever necessary. These new advancements will allow for: 

• Health care outcomes to be the focus; not just technology use
• Improvement of quality, safety, efficiency and reduce health  disparities
• Improve care coordination
• Engage patients and their families in their own health care
• Ensure privacy and security protections for Privacy Health Information (PHI)
• Improve population and public health

Currently, many of Alaska's healthcare providers are utilizing the HIE and EHRs, eliminating the problems associated with maintaining and transferring paper copy medical records, improving patient safety and continuity of care. Health care records are readily available to health care providers, giving them the information needed to make accurate diagnoses and treatment decisions for patients traveling between rural communities and facilities to receive health care.

2020 Stage 3 Program Requirements

• Requirements for EHR Incentive Programs - 2020 Resources
• Overview of the OPPS/ASC Final Rule Major Changes
• Health Information Exchange Fact Sheet
• Security Risk Analysis
• ONC Security Risk Assessment Tool

Other Related Links

• Certification
• Certified Health IT Product List
• Alaska Medicaid EHR Incentive Program Provider Outreach Page
• Alaska State Level Registry Login
• EHR Incentive Reference Documents