Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009, hospitals and health care professionals are required to become 'meaningful users' of certified EHR technology in order to do which of the following?

• A. A and C only
• B. Practice medicine
• C. Receive incentive payments
• D. Avoid financial penalties

Answer: (A)

The main idea is that meaningful use creates financial incentives and penalties to drive EHR adoption and proper use. Under ARRA, hospitals and providers can receive incentive payments if they demonstrate meaningful use of certified EHR technology. At the same time, failing to meet meaningful use leads to financial penalties in the form of reduced Medicare reimbursements. Therefore, the outcomes tied to becoming a meaningful user are receiving incentive payments and avoiding penalties. Practicing medicine itself isn’t the mechanism that triggers the incentives or penalties.