A group of 43 hospitals and health systems are urging federal officials to redefine certain terms to maximize the number of medical providers that will be eligible for health IT incentive payments under the federal economic stimulus package, AHA News reports.
On Friday, the hospitals sent a letter detailing their concerns to CMS, HHS and the White House Office of Health Reform.
The letter suggests that officials should define a "hospital" as a "discrete site of service" so that a health system's individual campuses each can apply for the incentive payments separately.
The letter also urges officials to rework their definition of "hospital-based physician" so doctors who practice in hospital-owned outpatient clinics can apply for the incentive payments (AHA News, 12/4).