Experts cautious about health IT money up for grabs

With health information technology money up for grabs, many electronic health-record vendors are offering financing deals to attract business. But, just like shopping for a car, experts warn about reading the fine print before buying.

Some of these vendors have been offering financing to potential customers for years, either through partner lending institutions or their own financial arms. "This is not anything new from that light," said Dan Michelson, an executive vice president and chief marketing officer for Allscripts-Misys Healthcare Solutions. He wasn't sure exactly what remedies were in place should a customer fail to make payments to Allscripts' partner, U.S. Bank. "Whatever we've put in the contracts, people have gotten comfortable with at this point."