CMS PROPOSES DEFINITION OF STAGE 2 MEANINGFUL USE OF CERTIFIED ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORDS (EHR) TECHNOLOGY
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today announced a proposed rule for Stage 2 requirements for the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs. Under the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act, part of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, eligible health care professionals (EPs), eligible hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals can qualify for Medicare and Medicaid incentive payments when they adopt certified EHR technology and use it to demonstrate “meaningful use” of that technology by achieving objectives set by CMS. The fact sheet summarizes CMS’ proposed requirements for Stage 2 of the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs and highlights:
• Changes to Stage 1 Criteria for Meaningful Use
• Greater Applicability to Specialists • Stage 2 Reporting of Clinical Quality Measures
• Payment Adjustments and Exceptions
• Extension of Stage 1 In this proposed rule, CMS proposes several changes to existing Stage 1 criteria for meaningful use.
Some of these changes would be optional for use by providers in Stage 1 but would be required for use in Stage 2. Other changes would not take effect until providers have to meet the Stage 2 criteria.
CMS’ proposed rule may be viewed here: http://www.ofr.gov/OFRUpload/OFRData/2012-04443_PI.pdf
Additional information on the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs can be found at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/EHRincentiveprograms. Click here to read the entire CMS Fact Sheet issued 2/23/12: http://www.cms.gov/apps/media/press/factsheet.asp?Counter=4286
