North Texas REC Executive Director
Mike Alverson says in the past two years, the North Texas REC enrolled nearly 1,500 physicians and helped more than 200 physicians achieve meaningful use of their EHRs. Now that the REC has met its enroll-
ment goal, it increased the annual en- rollment fee for eligible primary care physicians from $300 to $600. Similarly, the fee for specialists increased from $500 to $1,000. All physicians who join the REC have access to consulting ser- vices at $125 per hour. The West Texas REC gained serious
ground in increasing enrollment, with 978 enrollees at press time. In fact, the REC exceeded its target of 933 members. Dr. McBride says the REC is solidifying its pricing structure. Contact the West Texas REC for pricing information at (806) 743-7960. At press time, the CentrEast REC had
nearly met its goal of 1,000 enrollees, with 970 members, and had a limited number of openings available to primary care physicians for the $300 subsidized rate. Call the REC at (979) 436-0390 for pricing information.
RECs plan for the future Kim Dunn, MD, Gulf Coast REC prin- ciple investigator, says collaboration was the key to success for the Gulf Coast REC. She explains all four Texas RECs worked together to create a vendor-neu- tral best practices program for member physicians. The program provides a com- plimentary one-stop online source for certified EHR selection. Dr. Dunn calls the program “
Match.com for doctors.” Physician members can log on to www
.txrecs.org to access EHR demonstrations, reviews, informative videos, tools, and other resources to help in the selection of an ONC-Authorized Testing and Cer-
tification Body certified EHR that best matches their practice. “The best practices program gives phy-
sicians the opportunity to have a level playing field with the various EHR ven- dors. The RECs have vetted the vendors and are able to outline what they have to offer,” Dr. Dunn said. Seventy Gulf Coast REC member phy-
sicians have achieved Stage 1 meaning- ful use criteria, says Dr. Dunn. “At first we focused on getting doctors
enrolled, and now we’re focusing on get- ting as many doctors to meaningful use as possible,” she said. Internist Robert D. Dewitt, MD, own-
er of The Dewitt Clinic in Alvin, says the Gulf Coast REC helped him prepare to attest to meaningful use in the coming months under the Medicare incentive program. “The consultant the REC assigned my
office is extremely knowledgeable and has helped guide us through meaningful use. I hope to continue my relationship with the REC, because I think the center could be helpful with transitioning to ICD-10 and with adjusting to any other changes,” he said. On top of its current services, Dr.
Dunn says the Gulf Coast REC will of- fer a work study program as part of its sustainability model. “The work study program allows the
Fewer No-Shows.
Medicaid’s transportation services are free and available to Texas Health Steps patients and most others who use Medicaid medical and dental benefits. The services include rides to the doctor or dentist when a patient has no other means of transportation.
That means fewer missed appointments, fewer no-shows, and healthier patients.
To reach the HHSC medical transportation help desk, call 1-877 MED-TRIP (1-877-633-8747).
Taking New Steps 34 TEXAS MEDICINE June 2012
REC to work with vendors to establish outsourced technical support to doctors. We’ve found one of the greatest needs among physicians is technical support, and we think we can collaborate with EHR vendors and provide a valuable ser- vice,” Dr. Dunn said. Mehdi Rais, MD, West Texas REC di-
rector of clinical informatics, says the center is educating members on Stage 2 meaningful use proposed rules and plans to help them achieve the criteria once finalized. (See “Medicine Protests New Meaningful Use Rules,” opposite page.) “We’re hoping to survey the REC land-
scape and develop best practices for physicians. We also plan to provide edu- cation on getting the most out of EHRs and connecting to health information exchanges and other entities,” he said. CentrEast REC Codirector and Chief
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