American College of Cardiology

Federal EHR Incentive Program

President Barack Obama on Feb. 17, 2009, signed into law the “American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009” (ARRA), authorizing $20 billion to assist in the development of a robust health information technology (IT) infrastructure. The law formally codifies the Office of the National Coordinator (ONC), which is responsible for coordinating the health IT programs created by the law and endorsing certification and standards, among other tasks. ARRA authorizes $17.2 billion in incentives through Medicare and Medicaid to assist providers in adopting health IT. From 2011-2015, physicians that demonstrate “meaningful use” of electronic health record (EHR) technology and performance during the reporting period of each payment year will be eligible for positive payment incentives. See the resources below for more information about the program.

Related Resources

• ACC Summary of ARRA Provisions
• Frequently Asked Questions for ARRA Provisions
• Letter to ONC National Coordinator Blumenthal on ‘Meaningful Use’ Definition - June 2009
• ACC Comments on ‘Meaningful Use’ Definition - June 2009
• ACC Responds to Meaningful Use Draft Definition - June 2009