There is another cash-for-clunkers type government program just over the horizon that will run out of money and cause people to call their representatives in Washington to clamor for some more.  It has to do with electronic health records (EHR).

Part of the stimulus package that was signed in February (HR-1, American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009) was $45 billion for helping hospitals and health care providers move to EHR.  Hospitals can get up to $8 million each starting Oct. 1, 2010. Physicians can start getting their share of that $45 billion (up to $64,000 for Medicaid providers) starting Jan. 1, 2011.

Hospitals and health care providers must buy and be able to show that they have been using the EHR system for 12 months before they can be reimbursed for their hefty outlay of cash.

If all 5,708 of the hospitals in the United States receive the full $8 million — and why wouldn’t they in the current climate — all of the money will be gone before any of the physicians can get reimbursed. So all the doctors in the country who paid big money for computers, software and training will all start bellyaching just like the car dealers did when the cash for clunkers money dried up.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats set up the stimulus package so that people are going to be lobbying for more and more government spending. If you thought the car dealers made a loud noise for more government spending, you haven’t heard anything yet. Buy ear plugs now.

Rodney Durr

Fort Gibson