EMR Program
The SMA Electronic Medical Records (EMR) Program supports physicians in choosing, implementing, and optimizing their EMR systems and digital health tools.
The program’s mission is to partner with physicians to navigate and enhance the use of health information technology to benefit physicians, their practice, patients, and healthcare in Saskatchewan. Our goal is to help you build an effective EMR, through practical guidance, digital optimization, and support tailored to your needs.
Electronic Medical Record and digital health solutions:
- Enhance patient care
- Improve patient safety
- Provides secure access to up-to-date patient information, while maintaining patient privacy
- Enhance practice efficiencies and reduce administration burden
An SMA Practice Advisor can consult with you and with your clinic staff to understand the complexities, goals, and needs of your practice to provide customized plans, guidance, and training.
EMR Program Funding
EMR Program funding is available to offset the cost of implementing and maintaining an EMR in your practice. Saskatchewan has two approved EMRs – QHR Accuro or Telus Med Access.
- EMR program funding is available to physicians who are responsible for paying for their EMR.
- Funding requires physicians to follow the best practice guidelines outlined in the Orientation Package for Physician (last update Oct 2024).
- Funding is based on billing submitted using the EMR.
To access the EMR program funding application, log into your MySMA member portal account.
$1.00 per patient encounter
- Physicians receive $1.00 for every approved fee code submitted through their EMR. Documentation in the EMR is required to support this fee code and it must contain sufficient information to meet the medical profession’s generally accepted standard for medical records. Refer to the list of EMR eligible fee codes below.
- The electronic record indicator is a specific field in the billing portion of the EMR and must be checked for claims to be eligible. Refer to the ‘Electronic Indicator’ examples below.
- Medical Services Branch (MSB) pays this bi-weekly.
$300.00 per month
- To qualify for this payment in the first year, 50% of submitted fee codes (from the approved list) must have the visit encounter captured in the EMR.
- After one year, 95% of submitted fee codes (from the approved list) must have the visit encounter captured in the EMR.
- The electronic record indicator is a specific field in the billing portion of the EMR and must be checked for claims to be eligible. Refer to the ‘Electronic Indicator’ examples below.
- Physicians must submit EMR eligible codes within the month the service was provided and prior to the last billing cutoff date for the month or the end of quarter run date, as noted on the MSB Claims Processing Calendar, in order to be counted toward the monthly fee calculation.
- Medical Services Branch (MSB) pays this quarterly. Refer to the ‘Payment Examples’ below
EMR Funding Eligible Fee Codes
EMR Program Funding MSB Payment Examples
Telus Med Access Electronic Record Indicator EMR Checkbox on Bill
QHR Accuro Electronic Record Indicator EMR Fee Requested Checkbox on Bill