EMR VENDORS AT THE GATE:
WALMART SPOTLIGHTS DOCTOR’S OFFICE SOFTWARE

SOMERSET, N.J. – March 13, 2009 – – President Obama’s $19 billion push for the healthcare industry to switch to electronic medical records (EMR) software has illuminated the products and pricing of vendors of all stripes. This week, Walmart instantly became the biggest fish in the pond – but is its offering the lowest or best price for doctors – or even a good deal at all?

"Now that I’m suddenly competing with Walmart, I am reminded of both the LBO era and Dot-Com era – the booms of the late 80’s and late 90’s,” said David Rosenblum, president of MTBC. “Today we see expensive and over-complex solutions being pushed on unsuspecting physicians who are caught up in the Obama Administration’s urgent push for electronic records."

MTBC, a Somerset, N.J. firm that specializes in healthcare IT and revenue cycle management, offers its EMR to its clients for free. Mr. Rosenblum asserts that no vendor will charge for an EMR program in the near future.

In contrast, earlier this week Walmart announced that it will team its Sam’s Club division with Dell and eClinicalWorks to offer doctors an EMR package deal of hardware, software, installation, maintenance and training.

The package, which will begin this spring, will cost roughly $25,000 for the first doctor plus $10,000 for each additional doctor in the practice and $4,000 to $6,500 annually for maintenance and support.

“This pricing is curious, to say the least – it includes a Dell desktop or tablet computer that would likely cost $400-800 on its own, and a software program for which eClinicalWorks previously charged $17,000,” Rosenblum said. “As I understand it, physicians who shop with MTBC instead of Walmart will save about $30,000 in the first year alone.”

MTBC EMR includes the same core functionality as the software program provided by eClinicalWorks – although the eClinicalWorks program is presently CCHIT-certified. MTBC is in the process of obtaining CCHIT certification as well, and its EMR will continue to be offered free of charge. MTBC also offers billing services, which are not available in Walmart’s package.

"I shop at Walmart because of their low pricing for all sorts of goods – but I sure wouldn’t buy this new product,” added Rosenblum. “Doctors should practice caution and do their homework. “Even if they choose an EMR from a vendor other than MTBC, they should NEVER seriously consider the Walmart offer."

ABOUT MTBC

Founded in 1999 and based in Somerset, N.J., MTBC performs revenue cycle and practice management for healthcare providers in all specialties. The standard service, billed at 4 percent of collections, includes practice management tools, financial reporting capabilities, online patient scheduling and office forms, and online access to billing and scheduling information. The premium service, billed at 5 percent of collections, includes integration with a third-party EMR, online insurance eligibility verification, electronic prescribing and lab connectivity, web site for patient scheduling, and automated appointment reminder phone calls. Practices and hospitals in 40 states have embraced MTBC. To learn more about MTBC’s medical billing and its medical transcription services, visit www.mtbc.com.

Contact:

Axiom Communications
James A. Quirk, VP/Media Relations
201-348-8998
jamesq@axiominc.net

MTBC

Michael Menche, VP/Marketing & Sales
(732) 873-5133 ext. 124
mmenche@mtbc.com

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