For the skeptics who wondered if the checks would ever flow (and we confess to asking that question ourselves early on), here is the latest update.

CMS paid out almost $90 million in September, bringing the total to date to about $870 million.  The agency says it is on track to pay over $1 billion by year end.

The quick math on the September numbers shows right at $18,000 per eligible provider (physician) and a bit over $2 million per hospital, right in line with expectations based on the legislation.

17,000 new providers registered for the program in September, bringing the total to about 114,000 providers.