Several health care industry groups have submitted comments to the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT, expressing concern about the proposed requirements and timeline for Stage 3 of the meaningful use program, Healthcare IT News reports (Miliard, Healthcare IT News, 1/14).
Background
Under the 2009 federal economic stimulus package, health care providers who demonstrate meaningful use of certified electronic health record systems can qualify for Medicaid and Medicare incentive payments.
In November 2012, the Health IT Policy Committee asked for public comment about its proposal for Stage 3 of the meaningful use program. The final rules for Stage 3 are expected to take effect in 2016 (iHealthBeat, 11/9/12).
American Hospital Association’s Letter
On Monday, the American Hospital Association submitted a letter to ONC stating that it is too soon to define the requirements for Stage 3.
AHA wrote that hospitals have not had enough experience with Stage 2 rules and that no products to support Stage 2 currently are available.
AHA recommended that:
College of Healthcare Information Management Executives’ Letter
Also on Monday, the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives submitted a letter urging ONC to reconsider the timeline and scale of Stage 3 of the meaningful use program.
CHIME recommended that ONC conduct extensive evaluations of what already has been accomplished through the meaningful use program to determine whether the proposed Stage 3 criteria are realistic and achievable by 2016 (Healthcare IT News, 1/14).
Federation of American Hospitals’ Letter
On Monday, the Federation of American Hospitals submitted a letter stating that ONC should evaluate current meaningful use requirements before health care providers invest money in preparing for Stage 3.
FAH wrote that it believes the current timeline of two years for each meaningful use stage is a barrier to fully achieving the meaningful use program’s goals of improving care quality, efficiency and safety (Millman et al, “Pulse,” Politico, 1/15).
Source: iHealthBeat
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