MacPractice (http://www.macpractice.com) -- the developer of MacPractice MD, MacPractice DDS, MacPractice DC, and MacPractice 20/20 -- has announced that as part of its plan to pursue certification to the federal government’s proposed Health Information Technology standards for electronic medical records/electronic health records (EMR/EHR), the company will provide a free upgrade to its newly certified version for new customers once certification is achieved.
 
The free upgrade will be available to all customers who purchase MacPractice EMR between now and the time certification is achieved. Per the current guidelines issued by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC), certain physicians who accept Medicare and demonstrate meaningful use of a certified EHR/EMR solution in 2010 could qualify for up to US$44,000 in incentives through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). Incentive payments begin October 2011. More money is available to physicians who treat Medicaid patients, and a different payment schedule applies, says Mark Hollis, president and co-founder of MacPractice.
 
He notes that while no EMR/EHR provider can guarantee a doctor will use its software to successfully demonstrate meaningful use, anymore than a doctor can guarantee a patient will take their medication as prescribed, MacPractice guarantees that its EMR solution will be certified and new customers will be upgraded at no additional cost
 
For a limited time, MacPractice EMR pricing starts at $4,000 for three providers with annual EMR support and updates for $600 per office. MacPractice practice management software is required.