The goal of the incentives is to increase the use of EHR systems in state-run healthcare, which officials hope will improve healthcare quality and efficiency.
The program has paid more than $388 million to California Medi-Cal providers and more than $355 million to Medicare providers.
The initiative, called the California eHealth Initiative, is a coalition of groups led by the CHHS and seeks to encourage the use of health information technology, electronic records and electronic health information exchange between providers.
Medi-Cal incentive payments are made through the California Department of Health Care Services’ (DHCS) EHR Incentive Program, funded by the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Medicare incentive payments are made by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Pamela Lane, the Deputy Secretary of the Health Information Exchange at CHHS, said in statement that the incentive program is about more than the economy.
"Ultimately, the quality of care for millions of patients will be greatly improved as vital health information becomes more accessible and is securely shared among providers," Lane said in a press release.
According to the CHHS, more than 4,800 Medi-Cal providers and 13,200 Medicare providers have participated in the incentives program, including, as of Sept. 3:
- San Francisco Bay area received $75. 8 million for 1,200 providers
- Los Angeles area received $100.9 million for 940 providers
- Inland Empire area received $40.6 million for 818 providers
- San Diego area received $30 million for 539 providers
- San Joaquin Valley area received $43.3 million for 482 providers
- Sacramento Valley area received $17.1 million for 223 providers
