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HIMSS defines 'meaningful use' of EMRs for Medicare incentives
So, soon providers will get incentives for putting EMRs into place--but as is usually the case, there's a catch. To get Medicare incentive payments, it's not enough to simply roll out the technology; hospitals and physicians will have to prove that they've made "meaningful use of certified EHR technology."
This "meaningful use" includes using the technology to exchange electronic health data to improve care quality and submitting care quality measures to HHS. Not only that, hospitals and doctors will need to meet these requirements within a specified time frame.
So, what's a group of providers to do if they want to get the incentive payments? HIMSS has a few suggestions:
* Rely on CCHIT as the certifying body for EMRs.
* Adopt metrics that can demonstrate meaningful use, and make them increasingly more stringent over two years or so.
* Work with HITSP and IHE to make sure systems are interoperable.
* Close the existing gap between "certified EHR technologies," "best of breed," and "open source" technologies. (now there's a tall order!)
Any way you look at it, providers have their hands full in meeting the stimulus deadlines, which include October 1, 2010 for hospitals and January 1, 2011. Interoperability, in particular, is likely to be something of a nightmare. Best of luck, HIT pros!
To learn more about the HIMSS recommendations:
- read this HIMSS press release
Related Articles:
Health IT stimulus includes Medicare EMR incentives
Consumer, biz groups push pro-EMR legislation
Comments
I commend HIMSS credit for their attempt to define “meaning use,†but I find their definition troubling in several respects. As I wrote at curinghealthcare.blogspot.com/2009/05/defining-meaningful-use-of-health-it_02.html, meaningful use can better be defined simply as using HIT in ways that increase care value to the patient/consumer. It doesn't matter what types of software tools are used, what communication infrastructure is used, what standards are used, or what certifications are used. It just means that the meaningful use of HIT should focus on (a) enabling clinicians to render ever more effective and efficient care, and (b) helping patients/consumers take ever better care of themselves.
The smart path to meaningful HIT use, imo, promotes the kinds of radical innovation that enable widespread collaboration and the application of good science focused on providing continually evolving “patient-centered cognitive support.†Following this path means (a) accepting that the unaided human mind, no matter how competent, simply cannot handle the incredible amount of complex information that must be processed to make wise decisions in difficult situations; (b) doing more to link scientific research and clinical practice; and (c) encouraging truly creative HIT solutions that foster widespread collaboration, diagnostic aids, evidence-based decision support, the evolution of computation healthcare models, translational research, etc.
Steve Beller, PhD
CEO/President
National Health Data System, Inc.
Since when did HIMSS become a political action committee for vendors? The leadership has lost touch with heaalthcare users and even the non vendor membership. Big shows and floor space sales. It is a shame. Has the front office gotten like fat cats in New York. CCHIT has outgrown its britches and because of the vendor influence and conflicts is loosing credibility. Hope ONC doesnt get tricked by them.
Best addition to meaningful use dialogue has been the MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS publication from PCPCC. Take a look. Its great!
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