Minnesota is U.S. leader in pursuing statewide IT
The state of Minnesota has begun to implement new laws requiring e-prescribing, paperless claims and eventually an interoperable e-medical record for every Minnesotan by 2015, which places it in the forefront of pursuing health information technology.
Additionally, all in-state pharmacies must be equipped to accept e-prescriptions from doctors by 2009.
According to the new legislation proposed by Governor Tim Pawlenty, healthcare providers may not submit any claims on paper and eligibility checks must be completed online as of January 15, 2009. According to the governor’s staff, if this is completed on time, Minnesota will be the first state in the country to go completely paperless, and will meet President Bush’s proposed schedule that every American should have an electronic medical record by 2014.
These changes will cut administrative costs and the state will also adopt a uniform coding and billing system. The state government will save approximately $5 million a year, primarily from efficiency but also from managing patients’ use of medications.
In order to help small, rural healthcare providers and safety net clinics acquire EMR systems, the legislature has appropriated $14 million to ease the cost of the transition.
Additionally, all in-state pharmacies must be equipped to accept e-prescriptions from doctors by 2009.
According to the new legislation proposed by Governor Tim Pawlenty, healthcare providers may not submit any claims on paper and eligibility checks must be completed online as of January 15, 2009. According to the governor’s staff, if this is completed on time, Minnesota will be the first state in the country to go completely paperless, and will meet President Bush’s proposed schedule that every American should have an electronic medical record by 2014.
These changes will cut administrative costs and the state will also adopt a uniform coding and billing system. The state government will save approximately $5 million a year, primarily from efficiency but also from managing patients’ use of medications.
In order to help small, rural healthcare providers and safety net clinics acquire EMR systems, the legislature has appropriated $14 million to ease the cost of the transition.