Emerging HIT
Meaningful Use
Provided for through the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH), are federal incentive payments that will be available to hospitals and eligible providers upon the adoption of electronic health records (EHR’s) and demonstration that they can use those systems in ways that support the improvement in quality, safety, efficiency and effectiveness of care. Through the HITECH Act, and the establishment of the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC), the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued it final rule for meeting the meaningful use criteria.
What is the incentive program?
Under the Medicare and Medicaid EHR incentive program there are financial incentives for the meaningful use of Certified EHR technology to achieve health, efficiency and quality goals. Through the implementation and the meaningful use of an EHR system, providers will obtain more than financial benefits, but also quality benefits through:
A Reduction in errors
Availability of records and data
Reminders and alerts
Clinical Decision Support
E-Prescribing
Refill automation
These incentives are available to eligible professionals, eligible hospital, and critical access hospitals that successfully demonstrate meaningful use of Electronic Health Record Technology each year they are participants in the program.
Stage 2 Meaningful Use Proposed Objectives click here.
To access the Meaningful Use Final Rule click here.
The Center for Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive timeline click here.
Medicine Dish Video on Medicare and Medicaid Incentive Program click here.
Article: HIT Policy Committee: Meaningful Use Workgroup Request for Comments Regarding Meaningful Use Stage 2
Article: AMA’s Meaningful Use Glossary and Requirements Table
Details for: CMS PROPOSES DEFINITION OF STAGE 2 MEANINGFUL USE OF CERTIFIED ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORDS (EHR) TECHNOLOGY