The Mississippi Division of Medicaid has awarded a contract to Affiliated Computer Services Inc. (ACS) for use of its state level registry software, through which providers can apply for incentive EHR payments via a secure Web site.

Healthcare providers who adopt and meaningfully use electronic health records may qualify for incentive payments under either the Medicaid or Medicare program. Each state is required to manage the process for Medicaid providers to apply for and receive their payments.

With the registry, Mississippi can track and confirm qualified applicants, verify their use of certified EHRs and reduce fraud by making sure that providers meet the threshold for incentive payments, according to an announcement Jan. 24. Details of the value of the contract were unavailable, according to a company spokeswoman.

The state level registry also coordinates with the federal National Level Repository of providers participating in the incentive program to eliminate the issuance of duplicate payments.

The online registry tool makes the Medicaid incentive process less resource intensive for the state agency, said Dr. Robert L. Robinson, executive director of the Mississippi Division of Medicaid.

"Utilization of the state level registry help desk facility, also provided by ACS, frees our staff to focus on our goal of improving the access and quality of care to Medicaid beneficiaries," he said.

ACS, a business process and IT services provider, also administers Mississippi's Medicaid Management Information System (MMIS), its modernized system for claims processing.