Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina announced this week that it will collaborate with Allscripts to make Electronic Health Records (EHRs) available to more than 750 North Carolina physicians. The initiative is part of the North Carolina Program to Advance Technology for Health (NCPATH), which is a collaboration between BCBSNC and Allscripts, with support from the NC Health Information Exchange (NC HIE) and NC Area Health Education Centers (AHEC). NCPATH seeks to provide independent primary care physicians and free clinics with affordable electronic health record (EHR) technology, which can improve their ability to provide high quality and cost-effective care.

BCBSNC says the program will cover 85 percent of EHR cost for eligible independent practices and 100 percent for eligible free clinics, including training and support for participating practices. The EHR systems will allow the eligible practices to connect with other health care organizations through the NC Health Information Exchange (NC HIE).

To learn more about the program, visit www.allscripts.com/ncpath or call 1-855-611-7768.

The NCMS and its Foundation (NCMSF) have been actively involved in the development of health information technology (HIT) and HIE in North Carolina. NCMS Past President Hadley Callaway, MD, was one of eight physicians who served on the governor’s HIT Strategic Planning Task Force. The Foundation is one of the major partner organizations working with the NC AHEC program to offer comprehensive technical support and educational programs to help primary care physicians implement EHRs, achieve meaningful use and deliver high-quality, cost-effective care. More information is available at the NCMSF website, http://www.ncmsfoundation.org/.

The NCMSF also offers loans through the North Carolina EHR Loan Fund. Practices in all counties in need of funding, for implementing either the Allscripts EHR provided through the NCPATH program or other vendor products, are eligible to apply for these loans. Please visit the EHR loan fund website at: http://www.ncehrloanfund.org/ for more information and the complete application. 

NCMSF works with the Regional Extension Centers (RECs) to assist practices with financial management and loans available through the EHR Loan Fund program. Click here for a brochure on the Loan Fund to Improve Access to Electronic Health Records.  For more information or assistance, please contact Terri Gonzalez at [email protected] or call 800-722.1350.