Providers who are interested in participating in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' Bundled Payment for Care Improvement program may be more successful if they use electronic health records, according to a recent release from the office.

The initiative was started as a component of the Affordable Care Act. It allows CMS to combine payments to healthcare groups for all services rendered per patient treatment episode, rather than reimbursing physicians individually for each service they provide. The idea is to encourage collaboration.

FierceEMR reports that providers using EHR systems will be given preference when it comes to who is allowed to participate in the program. This is largely a part of the overall goal of CMS, which is to encourage the adoption of EHR systems.

However, it also makes sense in the context of the program, as electronic records will make it easier for providers to communicate with one another to bundle their billing.

"The Bundled Payments initiative will encourage doctors, nurses and specialists to coordinate care. It is a key part of our efforts to give patients better health, better care and lower costs," said Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.