In late July, Health Imaging News, like a lot of other media, reported about an initiative from Medicare that would supposedly offer 'free' EHR software to physicians hoping to go electronic with their patient records. A week later we reported that it wasn't actually free, but rather involves licensing fees that are actually kind of expensive. Now, HHS (Health and Human Services) has revealed that access to the software (called VistA-Office) has been put on hold indefinitely. 

According to comments by Karen Bell, MD, division director of the Quality Improvement Group at CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services), the initiative is under review currently at Secretary Leavitt's office and nothing is currently available.

Health Imaging & IT will keep you posted on developments, but don't hold your breath.