What is Meaningful Use?

Just before the new year, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology released the proposed definition of "meaningful use" of an electronic health record (EHR) system.

Physicians who become "meaningful users" of qualified EHRs and who accept Medicare patients could receive as much as $44,000 over five years starting in 2011. Physicians whose patient populations are at least 30 percent Medicaid and who are meaningful users of EHRs could receive $63,750 over the five years.

The incentive was announced as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 in February 2009. The 556-page rule proposes three stages of EHR adoption, beginning in 2011. Stage 2 begins in 2013 and stage 3 in 2015. The 25 requirements of stage 1 adoption for physicians are described beginning on page 103 of the proposed rule. Stages 2 and 3 were not defined in the proposed rule, which states that they will be determined in time for the payment deadlines.
Some of the stage 1 measures:

• 80 percent of physician orders must use computerized physician order entry;
• 80 percent of unique patients must have their demographics and vital signs recorded;
• 80 percent of claims must be submitted electronically;
• 50 percent of patients must receive preventative or follow-up care reminders;
• 80 percent of patients who request an electronic copy of their record must receive it in 48 hours;
• At least one test of the EHR's capacity to exchange key clinical information (problem list, medication list, allergies, and test results) must be performed.

Physicians must demonstrate meaningful use for at least 90 days for the first year, according to the proposed rule, which would give a physician "until October 1, 2011, to begin meaningful use of their certified EHR technology and receive an incentive for payment year 2011," the rule states. Physicians would report meaningful use through attestation.
Although some requirements, such as recording a patient's medical history, are fundamental, other requirements, such as the exchange of information to other providers, are more complex, according to physician and medical groups that responded to the proposed rule days after its release.

The proposed final rule can be viewed at:

Disclaimer: The information provided by American Medical Software in this white paper is not intended to constitute legal or financial advice. AMS encourages you to consult with your attorney and financial advisor prior to making any legal and/or financial decisions.