More than 50% of the medical fraternity has transitioned towards adopting electronic health records. As the second stage of Meaningful Use certification is upon us, let’s take an overview of what’s happening in the Meaningful Use EHR program.
A look back
As of May 2013, more than 297,000 health care providers received payment for participating in the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs. In May 2013, CMS announced that more than half of all eligible health care providers had been paid under the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs. More than $9.1 billion in Medicare EHR Incentive Program payments have been made between May 2011 and May 2013. More than $5.6 billion in Medicaid EHR Incentive Program payments have been made between January 2011 (when the first set of states launched their programs) and May 2013.
A look forward
On September 4 2012, CMS published a final rule that specifies the Stage 2 criteria that eligible professionals (EPs), eligible hospitals, and critical access hospitals (CAHs) must meet in order to continue to participate in the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs. All providers must achieve meaningful use under the Stage 1 criteria before progressing to Stage 2.
Timeline
EPs can begin Stage 2 demonstration in the calendar year 2014. EPs demonstrating Meaningful Use since 2011 will meet 3 consecutive years under Stage 1 before advancing to Stage 2.
Objectives
Stage 2 retains the Stage 1 core and menu structure for Meaningful Use objectives. EPs must meet 20 measures (17 core and 3 of 6 measures).
Reporting period
All EPs regardless of their stage are only required to demonstrate Meaningful Use for 3 months in 2014.
Clinical Quality Measures
EPs must report 9 out of 64 measures. All Medicare EPs must electronically report their CQM data to CMS. All Medicaid EPs must electronically report their CQM data to their state.
View the entire list of Meaningful Use: Stage 2 measures here.