Letter to Dr. Simmer, Blue Cross, Blue Shield of Michigan

 

Subject:	EMR implementation and National Certification of EMR by CCHIT will increase overhead for doctors offices and lower the EMR adoption
To:	doctorsimmer@bcbsm.com

Dear Doctor Simmer:

As many of the doctors and IT people are aware it costs about $37,000 for a IT vendor to get his/her EMR certified by CCHIT. It costs about $200,000 to pass the certification. The certification is version specific.(So if you get an update it does not mean it is still certified). It is just a list of 300 items to be passed. It does not have anything about interoperability -- that is the goal of payers and federal Government.

   

  

I hereby request BCBSMichigan to strongly consider making a support to general use of EMR and not specify CCHIT certified ones. Please read: http://www.emrupdate.com/forums/thread/54518.aspx. If all doctors are forced to use CCHIT certified ones, (1) they will have more overhead expenses. (2) It will work its way up into payment formulas and Insurances will start paying more. (3) Ultimately patients and insurance subscribers pay more for their premium.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact me. Thank you for your time.