GE offers interest-free loans to boost EMR spending

GE has begun offering no-interest loans to hospitals and doctors buying its GE Centricity EMR and enterprise technology, a program that is part of its "Healthymagination" initiative. Not only are the loans offered at zero interest, providers can also delay payments on their purchases. The loans are being financed by GE Healthcare and GE Capital.

By offering the program, dubbed Stimulus Simplicity, GE promises to make sure EMRs are certified by certification body CCHIT, which will be required for providers to get federal stimulus dollars. GE executives say these loans should lower barriers to EMR adoption, including worries about EMR standards and interim funding issues.

GE has set aside $100 million for the project, a paltry amount by finance services standards but presumably enough to get the ball rolling. (Our guess is that GE will have to expand the heck out of this one.)

To learn more about the program:
- read this Healthcare Finance News article