Comments on: News from the Front: SATVA, BH-EHR, FTC

By: Kathy

Kathy — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:50:13 +0000

Thanks for your comment, Pam. Our current generation of SOS products will not qualify for national certification. We are in the process of a total re-write. We will include necessary features in our software, but we are not sure about going for certification. The current cost is outrageous for a small company like ours and the number of our customers who might benefit from certification is very small. Under current law, only psychiatrists qualify as physicians for Medicare or Medicaid incentives. No other behavioral health or chemical dependency organizations qualify, nor do other behavioral health or addiction providers. And it looks like CCHIT Behavioral Health certification would still not make a product qualify for incentives and our product will never be a general medical EHR. These issues are going to make for a challenging situation for mental health, addictions, and other specialty providers.

By: Pam Strutz

Pam Strutz — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:09:29 +0000

Thanks Kathy for the update. Our local IPA (Independent Physician Association) held a class a few months ago addressing the coming EHR issues. In our region this organization holds the Medicaid contract with the State, so they pay our claims as well as all of the local physician offices. I am assuming that SOS will be going for national certification?

By: Kathy

Kathy — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:45:36 +0000

Vince,
There is so much happening so rapidly that we cannot keep up with it! We do our best to keep up with the info and to let you know about it. Hopefully, it will let you plan your business strategies in a timely fashion.
Kathy

By: Vince Bellwoar

Vince Bellwoar — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 02:45:25 +0000

kath,
Thanks for keeping us up to date. It remains a brave new world!–Vince