As part of President Obama’s economic stimulus package, an incentive program was established to move Medicaid providers from paper-based recordkeeping and tracking systems to interconnected electronic systems. Through the program, providers qualify for incentive payments if they show they are “meaningfully using” electronic health record technology and meeting specific measurement thresholds. The federal government assumed program funding responsibilities—while the states were appointed the massive undertaking of managing the program.

NYSTEC helped plan, govern, and coordinate multiple activities for the program statewide. Our responsibilities included defining program strategies, collaborating with stakeholders to plan and execute the program, defining business processes and system requirements, managing the support staff, conducting payee assessments, and providing outreach and support to healthcare providers enrolled in the program.

As of May 2016, more than 24,000 providers in the state signed up for the program, which has already spawned numerous tangible benefits. The coordination of patient care across providers is much more efficient. Information about patients is more accurate, complete, and current. The secure sharing of electronic information has facilitated more effective patient diagnoses while reducing medical errors. The program has lowered costs through decreased paperwork and reduced duplication of testing. Most important, the program is yielding better treatment and a healthier population.