Besides the healthcare industry, the federal government is also serious about chiropractors and other physicians adopting EHR software and meeting meaningful use requirements. The American Chiropractor reports that the Obama administration is encouraging healthcare providers to utilize EHR systems.

Furthermore, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is offering monetary incentives – up to $44,000 – to providers who meet meaningful use requirements, as previously reported by this blog. These incentives will be given in the form of bonuses in Medicare payments. On top of the financial stimulus, chiropractic offices and other medical providers that refuse to adopt EHR systems will receive a punitive reduction in Medicare payments by 2015.

"Remember, once Medicare requires a specific function, the rest of the insurance world jumps on the bandwagon and demands the same thing, even when it makes no sense," Paul Bindell, a chiropractor practicing in New Jersey, wrote for the news source. "Think of the requirement to have the same information in box 32 as is in box 33 of the CMS1500 form. Within the not too distant future, the insurance world will be demanding EHR/EMR systems in order for you to get paid. And if the insurance world does not, your State Board might."

Bindell further explains that chiropractors need to consider all of the benefits of adopting chiropractic EHR software. This includes protection in terms of audit and collection as well as the compensation through the federal incentives. Also, a chiropractor will experience reduced expenses as he or she will no longer need to rely on paper documents or a full-time administrative assistant.

Another benefit with EHR systems is its potential for developing SOAP notes in less than a minute. The latest regulations with SOAP notes would require chiropractors to spend at least 15 minutes writing out the document. EHR software solves this issue among many others, thereby allowing a chiropractor to see more patients and improve care.