The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has revised its Frequently Asked Question document regarding questions over meaningful use and its application to emergency department patients, according to AHA News Now.
The FAQ provides hospitals with two methods for including ED patients when demonstrating meaningful use requirements of the Medicare and Medicaid incentive programs. This is reflective of many hospitals that prioritize electronic health record adoption in their EDs.
The first option outlined in the FAQ, the Observation Services method, is consistent with previous guidance. Under this option, hospitals can include patients directly admitted to inpatient departments; patients presenting to the ED and subsequently admitted; and patients treated in the ED and provided observation services.
The new second option, the All ED Visits method, allows hospitals to include patients falling under the aforementioned scenarios as well as patients treated and discharged directly from the ED. Hospitals must select one of these methods for calculating their meaningful use metrics and apply the same method for all metrics to inpatient and ED patients.
Read the AHA News Now report about the All ED Visits method.
Read other coverage about meaningful use:
- 6 Keys to Successfully Fitting Healthcare Information Technology Into Accountable Care Organizations
- Study: Quality a Top Concern in Healthcare Organizations' Progress Toward Meaningful Use
- HIMSS: 22% of Hospitals Can Meet at Least 10 of 14 Core Measurements of Stage 1 Meaningful Use
The FAQ provides hospitals with two methods for including ED patients when demonstrating meaningful use requirements of the Medicare and Medicaid incentive programs. This is reflective of many hospitals that prioritize electronic health record adoption in their EDs.
The first option outlined in the FAQ, the Observation Services method, is consistent with previous guidance. Under this option, hospitals can include patients directly admitted to inpatient departments; patients presenting to the ED and subsequently admitted; and patients treated in the ED and provided observation services.
The new second option, the All ED Visits method, allows hospitals to include patients falling under the aforementioned scenarios as well as patients treated and discharged directly from the ED. Hospitals must select one of these methods for calculating their meaningful use metrics and apply the same method for all metrics to inpatient and ED patients.
Read the AHA News Now report about the All ED Visits method.
Read other coverage about meaningful use:
- 6 Keys to Successfully Fitting Healthcare Information Technology Into Accountable Care Organizations
- Study: Quality a Top Concern in Healthcare Organizations' Progress Toward Meaningful Use
- HIMSS: 22% of Hospitals Can Meet at Least 10 of 14 Core Measurements of Stage 1 Meaningful Use