Electronic health record payments available
to pediatric dentists

Pediatric dentists who want to participate in the Texas Medicaid Electronic Health Record Program can qualify with a lower Medicaid patient volume threshold than most other eligible professionals. The program provides incentive payments to health care providers when they adopt, implement or upgrade certified electronic health record technology and use the technology in a way that meets the program’s standard of meaningful use.

Most professionals eligible for the incentive program must demonstrate a minimum Medicaid patient volume of 30 percent. There are exceptions for pediatricians and those professionals who practice in federally qualified health centers or rural health clinics. Texas has gotten approval from the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to include pediatric dentists in the definition of pediatricians for the purposes of the incentive program. That means they can participate in the program with a minimum 20 percent Medicaid patient volume and receive two-thirds of the full incentive payment. Pediatricians and pediatric dentists who have Medicaid patient volume of 30 percent or higher will get the entire incentive amount.

A pediatric dentist must either be board certified in pediatric dentistry or have completed a residency in pediatric dentistry.

For answers to questions on this and other aspects of the Texas Medicaid Electronic Health Record Incentive Program, email HealthIT@tmhp.com. To learn how to enroll and participate in the program, visit the Texas Medicaid Electronic Health Record Incentive Program website.