Netsmart Technologies' CMHC/MIS Behavioral Health Software Passes ARRA Certification Tests

GREAT RIVER, N.Y., March 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Netsmart Technologies, Inc., a leading provider of software and services for health and human services organizations, today announced that its CMHC/MIS 4.2 electronic health record (EHR) software has successfully completed ARRA ONC-ATCB certification testing for the 21 ARRA certification tests for which it was submitted, earning a Certificate of EHR Compliance for 19 General and Ambulatory criteria. Netsmart plans to complete the 13 remaining ARRA tests in the second quarter of 2011 to make CMHC/MIS 4.2 software a Complete Ambulatory ARRA-certified EHR.

The successful testing of CMHC/MIS 4.2 software included passage of nine required security-related modules and other tests in such areas as health information exchange connectivity, monitoring smoking status, capturing vital signs, plotting growth charts, providing client-specific education resources, generating client lists and reminders, and maintaining an up-to-date problem list.

"This significant step towards complete certification demonstrates our ongoing commitment to our Netsmart customers on the CMHC/MIS platform," said James L. Conway, chief executive officer, Netsmart Technologies. "By using a complete certified solution, providers can enjoy the benefits of working with one technology partner to achieve Meaningful Use without integrating multiple module certified products."

Testing was conducted under Drummond Group's Electronic Health Records ONC-ATCB program. Drummond Group, Inc., is an Authorized Testing and Certification Body (ONC-ATCB) named by the Office of the National Coordinator to provide meaningful use certification for EHR systems and applications.

Netsmart was the first behavioral healthcare software provider to offer a Complete ARRA-certified EHR when it achieved certification for its Avatar™ 2011 enterprise software in December 2010. In addition to CMHC/MIS 4.2 software, Netsmart is also preparing its Insight™ public health software product for ARRA certification in 2011. These three enterprise software products, in conjunction with Netsmart's order entry, e-prescribing, consumer Web portal and health information exchange (HIE) interoperability technology, will help behavioral and public health provider organizations take advantage of the significant funding provided for the Meaningful Use of EHRs.

"As a long-time CMHC/MIS customer, I'm extremely pleased that Netsmart is dedicating the resources to make sure the software meets all the requirements for ARRA certification. As the MIS National User Group chair, I see this as one more step Netsmart is taking in its commitment to the CMHC/MIS product and users by ensuring the product continues to evolve," said Deb Coulter, chief information officer at FMRS Health Systems, Inc. in Beckley, W. Va.

Behavioral and other healthcare providers must use an ARRA-certified EHR and meet all required criteria to qualify for Medicaid and Medicare incentive payments for the Meaningful Use of EHR technology. Behavioral health organizations are currently eligible for ARRA incentives based on the number of Eligible Professionals (EPs), such as physicians and nurse practitioners, in their organization, assuming the organization meets criteria for Meaningful Use of a certified EHR and the professionals assign their incentives to the organization. The total benefit for Medicaid Eligible Professionals is $63,750 per EP over a six-year period – a significant financial incentive for organizations.

In the first year of participation in the Meaningful Use funding program, healthcare providers need only adopt (purchase) an ARRA-certified EHR to meet the Meaningful Use requirement of using an ARRA-certified EHR. There is no requirement to demonstrate Meaningful Use in the first year, and no EHR reporting is required. Eligible providers who have already adopted, implemented or upgraded to an ARRA-certified EHR would also receive a first year payment.

Netsmart is working with national mental health associations to enable passage of corrective legislation in Congress to extend eligibility for Medicaid and Medicare Meaningful Use incentive funds to behavioral health, mental health, and substance abuse treatment professionals and facilities not currently included as eligible in the HITECH Act. As drafted, the legislation will help behavioral health, mental health and substance abuse treatment facilities become eligible for higher levels of Medicaid and Medicare incentive funds. The legislation also expands Hospital Meaningful Use incentive funding eligibility to include inpatient psychiatric hospitals, and expands eligibility to include mental health treatment facilities and substance abuse treatment facilities. It also expands the definition of Eligible Professional to include clinical psychologists and social workers.

To learn more about how Netsmart can help behavioral health and public health organizations qualify for Meaningful Use incentives, visit www.ntst.com/meaningfuluse

About Netsmart Technologies, Inc.

Netsmart Technologies is an established, leading supplier of software-as-a service (SaaS) and internally-installed software solutions for health and human services providers. More than 18,000 customer organizations, including 350,000 care providers and more than 40 state systems, use Netsmart products to help improve the quality of life for millions of people each year.

Netsmart customers include mental health and substance abuse treatment agencies, psychiatric hospitals, private and group mental health practices, public health departments, vital records offices, and managed care organizations. Netsmart's products are full-featured information systems that operate on a variety of operating systems, hardware platforms, and mobile devices, and offer unlimited scalability.

Netsmart provides the solutions and expertise that help its customers meet all the criteria for Meaningful Use of an Electronic Health Record (EHR) under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. These include a Complete ARRA-Certified electronic health record and associated solutions including e-prescribing, order entry, the Netsmart CareConnect™ service that enables the sharing of clinical information through health information exchanges, the Netsmart ConsumerConnect™ Web portal to provide consumer access to their care information, and a flexible platform to capture and share outcomes data. Netsmart customers can utilize Netsmart solutions to meet all Stage 1 Meaningful Use criteria, avoiding the costly and time-consuming process of integrating solutions from multiple vendors.

Netsmart's Connected Care initiative allows behavioral and public healthcare providers to share clinical data electronically within their internal processes, externally with other providers, and with consumers via a Web-based portal, enabling high quality, consumer-directed care.

For information about Netsmart Technologies' full range of solutions for health and human services organizations, visit www.ntst.com or call 1-800-472-5509.

Avatar 2011 and the CMHC/MIS 4.2 EHR Module are 2011/2012 compliant and have been certified by the Drummond Group, an ONC-ATCB in accordance with the applicable certification criteria adopted by the Secretary of Health and Human Services. This certification does not represent an endorsement by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services or guarantee the receipt of incentive payments.

Avatar, InfoScriber, Insight, Netsmart CareConnect and Netsmart ConsumerConnect are trademarks of Netsmart Technologies, Inc.

SOURCE Netsmart Technologies, Inc.