Some physicians have griped about the requirements for meeting the first stage of meaningful use. However, the majority are saying that given the large incentive payments and the benefits to their practice of adopting an EHR system, the process of attesting to meaningful use is worth the effort.

Gary Casino, the executive director of a four-doctor medical practice in New Jersey, told InformationWeek that all four physicians had qualified for payments. Three had already received their first disbursement of $18,000 and the fourth is awaiting payment. For a small practice, the work required to comply with meaningful use can really pay off.

"For a practice like ours, $18,000 is not insignificant," Casino told the news source. "These aren't crazy requirements. $44,000 [in incentive payments] over four years for each doctor is worth it."

The Office of the National Coordinator has stated that the first stage of meaningful use rules were intended to be more lenient and attainable than future stages will be. Therefore, practices may be better prepared to comply with future regulations and receive full incentive payments by implementing EHR systems sooner rather than later.