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The Department of Health and Human Services recently announced the meaningful use rule, as part of a coordinated set of regulations to help create a private and secure 21st century electronic health information system. It provides financial benefits to Medicare and Medicaid providers that reach prescribed goals.
The rule was passed in direct correlation with the HITECH (Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health) act, through which the federal government has committed vast resources ($27 billion over 10 years) to support adoption and use of certified EHRs (electronic health records).
The meaningful use regulation requires hospitals and clinicians to meet set objectives. The final rule requires hospitals to meet 14 objectives, which is a decrease from the previous rule that obligated hospitals to fit 23 objectives. Eligible professionals also saw a decrease from 25 previous, to presently, 15.
Along with the new core requirements, comes an additional five requirements that providers need to achieve to be a part of the meaningful use program. These requirements range from clinical decision support to generating a list of patients with specific conditions.
The incentives can reach up to $44,000.00 through Medicare and $63,750 through Medicaid per clinician. To qualify for incentives, hospitals and eligible providers must use certified systems, which are capable of meeting all final requirements.
Instituting incentives provides a stellar opportunity for providers who struggle with funding and sharing information, but fully desire integrating EHR. The meaningful use rule should only prove to be beneficial for everyone involved.
However, those who choose not to comply with the new requirements will face reduced Medicare payments beginning as early as 2015.
The final rule has become effective on Sept. 28, 2010.
