Dallas - Affiliated Computer Services, Inc. (ACS), A Xerox Company is helping the state of Mississippi's Medicaid program manage an initiative that encourages the adoption of electronic health records (EHRs).
 
As part of the federal stimulus plan, healthcare providers who participate in state Medicaid programs receive incentive payments for implementing and using EHRs under the government's guidelines that demonstrate "meaningful use." Each state is required to manage the process for providers to apply for and receive their payments.
 
The Mississippi Division of Medicaid (DOM) has contracted with ACS for use of its State Level Registry (SLR) solution where providers can apply for incentive payments via a secure website. The SLR solution facilitates the State's tracking and confirmation of qualified applicants, verifies certified EHR use, reduces fraud by ensuring providers meet the threshold for incentive payments and by working in conjunction with the National Level Registry, eliminates the issuance of duplicate payments.
 
"The provision of the SLR tool by ACS in a short period of time, in compliance with complicated federal guidelines, mitigated a resource-intensive challenge which confronted the DOM," said Executive Director Dr. Robert L. Robinson. "The use of ACS's State Level Registry helps our providers efficiently navigate the process and provides DOM the ability to issue the correct incentive payments to the right person at the right time. Utilization of the SLR Help Desk facility, also provided by ACS, frees our staff to focus on our goal of improving the access and quality of care to Medicaid beneficiaries, while minimizing costs to our citizens."
 
"States are challenged with managing the rapidly changing demands of health information technology at a time when they need to make the most of their resources," said Will Saunders, senior vice president and leader, ACS Government Healthcare Solutions. "We are able to implement a solution that eases administrative burdens and helps states better focus on transforming the delivery of healthcare."
 
ACS is also the administrator of Mississippi's Medicaid Management Information System (MMIS).