HIT Policy Committee Announces Proposed "Meaningful Use" Definition
The Facts
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act authorizes the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to provide incentives to certain physicians and hospitals who achieve “meaningful use” of a certified electronic health record (EHR) system.
The act established the Health Information Technology (HIT) Policy Committee, which issued a draft definition of “meaningful use” at its June 16, 2009, meeting. The committee recommended a progressive definition, where “meaningful use” is ultimately linked to achieving measurable outcomes in patient engagement, care coordination and population health. The 2011 objectives are intended to establish a foundation for affecting a more comprehensive set of health outcomes in the future. By 2015, the objectives are to achieve and improve performance and support care processes. A matrix including the full proposed definition of “meaningful use” is available at http://healthit.hhs.gov/.
The committee has asked a workgroup of the committee to submit a new set of recommendations for “meaningful use” at the committee’s July meeting. The committee is currently accepting comments regarding the proposed draft, but it is not clear whether it will offer a comment period after the revised draft. The committee’s recommendations are non-binding, but will provide guidance to CMS, which will ultimately establish the definition for “meaningful use.”
What’s at Stake
Beginning in 2011, those physicians and hospitals who can demonstrate “meaningful use” of a certified EHR system will receive incentive payments through additional Medicare reimbursement. Beginning in 2015, those who have not achieved “meaningful use” will be subject to certain downward adjustments in their Medicare reimbursement rates.
Steps to Consider
- Consider submitting comments to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on the draft definition of “meaningful use.” Comments are due by 5 pm Eastern time, June 26, 2009.
- If your organization does not have an EHR system, consider options for EHR technology that fit within your organization’s structure and that will assist you in capturing data to meet evolving “meaningful use” requirements.
- If your organization already has an EHR, examine the systems and consider internal and external steps necessary to implement flexibility in capturing data required for an evolving definition of “meaningful use.”
- Obtain contractual commitments from EHR system vendors to assist you in achieving “meaningful use.”
