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About MeaningfulUse.org

13 Responses

1. Bad Boy, on July 23, 2009 at 12:22 AM said:

   The current definition of “meaningful use”; is not meaningful.
   Bad Boy Doctor

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2. Ann, on July 23, 2009 at 12:24 AM said:

   Bad Boy

   Now, don’t be cynical. Today, the term meaningful use” generally means that eHRs must have these three characteristics:

   1. e-Prescribing
   2. Quality reporting
   3. Interoperability

   Of course, the last requirement is the most onerous and difficult to achieve. But, expect more “clarity” on this by CCHIT, in December 2009, or January 2010.

   Good luck!
   Ann
   Ann Miller; RN, MHA
   [Executive Director]

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3. Beau, on July 23, 2009 at 12:15 PM said:

   Only in America, do we need a website to define a single term; cheese!
   Beau

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4. Gregory, on July 23, 2009 at 8:21 PM said:

   Beau and Ann,

   For even more info on the definition of “meaningful use” for eMRs, and related timetables for compliance, please visit this link:

   http://govhealthit.com/newsitem.aspx?nid=71829

   Gregory

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5. Shawn, on August 19, 2009 at 10:25 AM said:

   Gregory,

   Thanks for the link:

   As I understand it, eHR nirvana for “meaningful use” will require the triad of these functions:

   • e-Prescribing
   • Quality reporting
   • Interoperability

   The most difficult function to achieve is technical interoperability. This is largely where we are now in the industry.

   But, even more important than these standards is industry-wide agreement about, and the adoption of, them. For example, the lack of agreement on standards results in isolated islands of data and data banks, which seem the exact opposite of interoperability. So, interoperability depends on an industry agreeing on and adopting standards.

   XML is perhaps the most important of these standards.

   Shawn

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6. Chambers, on August 28, 2009 at 12:11 PM said:

   Delayed … as Expected from the Feds

   Final regulations for “meaningful use” of EMRs won’t be available until the second quarter of next year; according to National Health IT coordinator Dr. David Blumenthal; no doubt a victim of the arduous federal rulemaking process.

   http://www.fierceemr.com/story/blumenthal-final-meaningful-use-regs-wont-be-out-spring/2009-08-27?utm_medium=nl&utm_source=internal

   Chambers Sullivan

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7. Paul, on September 14, 2009 at 4:01 PM said:

   Ann, Beau, Greg, Chambers and Shawn,

   Here is the link for a “meaningful use” decision matrix:

   Click to access Meaningful%20Use%20Matrix.pdf

   It is from the DHHS; so enjoy.
   Paul

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8. CIndy, on September 25, 2009 at 9:39 PM said:

   Read more on meaningful use criteria here:

   http://www.healthdatamanagement.com/news/stimulus-38977-1.html

   Cynthia

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9. Jane, on January 3, 2010 at 12:38 PM said:

   ‘Meaningful Use’ Criteria Released

   HHS issued two sets of much-anticipated federal regulations that significantly further the government’s healthcare information technology adoption agenda. The first set of regulations lists the “meaningful use” criteria that healthcare providers must meet to qualify for federal IT subsidies based on how they use their electronic health records. The second set of regulations lays out the standards and certification criteria that those EHRs must meet for their users to collect the money.

   Under the proposed meaningful use regulations, eligible healthcare providers must use their EHRs to: improve the quality, safety and efficiency of healthcare services; reduce healthcare disparities; engage patients and their families; improve the coordination of care; improve population and public health; and ensure the privacy and security of personal medical information.

   Under the interim final EHR regulations, EHRs must be able to securely exchange information among providers and between providers and patients using standardized data elements and technologies. The regulations outline standardized formats for such things as clinical summaries; medical descriptions of clinical conditions and test results; and how that information is exchanged over the Internet.

   Source: David Burda, Modern Healthcare [12/30/09]

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10. D. Kellus Pruitt DDS, on January 3, 2010 at 9:43 PM said:

    Wow, do I ever have egg on my face. I thought it would be so much more complicated than that.

    D. Kellus Pruitt; DDS

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11. Hope Hetico RN MHA, on July 26, 2010 at 8:13 PM said:

    Enter the MU Critics

    The final rules on “meaningful use” of eMRs have been out for about a week and a half now. While the early responses were overwhelmingly positive, some criticisms have started to surface now that more people have had the chance to slog through the 864 pages of bureaucrat-speak

    http://www.fiercehealthit.com/story/criticisms-final-meaningful-use-rule-start-emerge/2010-07-26?utm_medium=nl&utm_source=internal

    What do you think?

    Hope Hetico RN MHA

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12. Ann Miller RN MHA, on March 14, 2013 at 1:25 AM said:

    Some Fear EHR Meaningful Use is Too Much, Too Soon for Doctors

    Even before requirements for the second stage of the federal electronic health record incentive programs were finalized, many in the healthcare industry expressed concern that the promise of a bonus check was pushing some physicians to move too quickly with their transitions from paper. Their arguments were that by doing too much too quickly, work flow efficiencies and patient safety could decline, because physicians adopting for the first time would be too focused on checking things off a list of meaningful use objectives instead of easing into a new way of practicing medicine.

    If rapid adoption is truly a cause for concern, a study in the January/February issue of Annals of Family Medicine shows which states would be playing catch-up the fastest. It found that when the meaningful use incentive program started, some states already had the majority of their family physicians using technology, according to administrative data from the American Board of Family Medicine. Utah had an adoption rate of 94.9%, but Florida, Illinois, and Michigan lagged far behind, with less than half using some form of electronic health record system.

    Source: Pamela Lewis Dolan, Amednews.com [3/11/13]

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13. Beau, on September 20, 2014 at 5:46 PM said:

    Late Update in EHR Incentive Program System Could Mean Penalties for Some

    Through no fault of their own, a subset of physicians and other health professionals participating in the federal electronic health-record incentive payment program may get hit with Medicare penalties next year. At the heart of the problem is the logic built into a CMS website that’s unable to handle attestations from a narrow subset of program participants declaring they’ve complied with the program’s requirements for meaningful use of the technology.

    It’s unclear how many participants are at risk of the penalties because of the problem, but they are affected by a narrow set of circumstances. They include anyone who enrolled in the Medicare portion of the program this year, chose to use 2011 Edition software (or a hybrid of 2011 and 2014 editions) to achieve Stage 1 meaningful use, and will be eligible for an expanded hardship exemption approved this year. They also include those who first participated in the Medicaid portion of the EHR incentive payment program last year (and are therefore required to meet Stage 1 meaningful use requirements for the first time this year), are either using 2011 Edition software or a hybrid of 2011 and 2014 editions, and also will be eligible for an expanded hardship exemption.

    Source: Joseph Conn, Modern Healthcare [9/9/14]

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