What Role Should Payers Play to Promote EHR Adoption?

This Health Industry Insights report explores the role that payers could play to promote the adoption of clinical information systems ? especially electronic health records (EHRs) and electronic medical records (EMRs) - by providers. The value proposition of these systems has been widely documented, as have the impediments to clinician adoption. The drivers include improving clinicians' secure access to patients' medical information, improving the quality of patient care, and reducing healthcare costs by avoiding adverse medical events and not ordering redundant services. The barriers frequently cited by clinicians are that many of the EMR products are difficult to use and cause productivity to decline, especially during implementation. But the most common barrier cited by clinicians is the cost of acquisition and ongoing maintenance.

"The health industry must come together to solve this pressing financial challenge," states Lynne A. Dunbrack, program director, Healthcare Payer Research, "if the Bush Administration's mandate for EHRs for all Americans by 2014 is to be achieved." Payers currently possess more digitized health data than any other healthcare stakeholder, and often more financial resources, making them a logical partner in the EHR evolution.