EMRs Not Required by Law

Question: Is it true that physicians’ offices are required to have an EMR? If so, what is the time frame?

Answer: There is no such requirement.

Many politicians have proposed legislation to this effect but none of it has become law. President George W. Bush has encouraged physicians to adopt EMR, but it’s not a regulatory requirement.

Some take Medicare’s pay-for-performance initiatives as a de facto requirement for EMR as having such a system makes reporting easier, but it’s not required for that either.