At Shared Health we believe the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) means our core mission of transforming care through health information technology (HIT) will play a large role in the future of health care in America.

Places an increased value on accountability and reporting, and Shared Health can help

Across the health care spectrum, new provider reimbursement models will make it more likely that reimbursements will increasingly be linked to measurable quality and outcomes. This makes it necessary for you to incorporate into your practice HIT that can standardize and securely exchange patient information. As a result, you’ll be able to seize control of your practice through the ability to demonstrate better outcomes and improved efficiency. And ultimately, you’ll be prepared for the new performance standards that payers will implement.

Offers new opportunities to increase reimbursements

We believe that implementation of the PPACA will introduce additional opportunities for you to receive enhanced reimbursements from many payers. By placing more emphasis on meeting clinical quality performance goals, all payers will increasingly depend on standardized reporting formats — making HIT adoption even more valuable to your practice.

Does not change incentives for adopting HIT under ARRA

Changes to the health care system that are being proposed by the PPACA are separate from the reimbursement payments that will be available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (i.e., the federal stimulus bill), or ARRA. So payments for complying with “meaningful use” criteria will still be made to physicians eligible for the Medicaid and Medicare programs.

Now is the time to anticipate and prepare

While many aspects of PPACA will not be enacted for several years, physicians and hospitals should be prepared for changes to reporting, reimbursement models, and performance demands as well as shifts in patient populations. Shared Health believes the increased adoption and use of electronic health information and recordkeeping, health information exchanges, and clinical decision support tools will help you and your health care community easily adapt to these changes, increase efficiencies, and enhance your practice performance. The earlier you and your staff are prepared with the right tools and training, the better off you’ll be. Let Shared Health help guide you through the maze of products and services that will help meet your needs.

Shared Health commitment to innovation and anticipation of changing marketplace needs

We understand that the implementation of PPACA, as well as the adoption of HIT, is an ongoing, evolutionary process for health care professionals. We will continue to anticipate these changes and proactively incorporate them into our products and solutions. As more advanced clinical decision support tools become available and new technology allows for better exchange of information among professionals, Shared Health will be on the leading edge of these advances.