The Health IT Policy Committee is considering putting off new stage 2 electronic health record functionality measures for one full year in order to give health IT vendors and healthcare providers time to develop and implement the software needed to meet those requirements, according to a Government Health IT news report.
Instead of introducing new quality measures and EHR functionalities at the same time, the HIT Policy Committee may adopt a "phase in" approach. In 2013, healthcare providers would be required to meet core meaningful use objectives, increased performance thresholds and new quality measures. However, they would not be required to implement new EHR functionalities until 2014, according to the news report.
The newly released proposed rule for accountable care organizations and impending ICD-10 requirements further complicates the meaningful use deadlines. Under the proposed phase-in approach, EHRs would not have the functionalities that are necessary for ACOs. In the next several months, CMS will be monitoring providers' progress to determine how their experiences may affect deadlines, according to the news report.
Read the news report about meaningful use deadlines.
Read other coverage about meaningful use:
- Ambulatory EMRs May Not Achieve Meaningful Use, Despite High Levels of Confidence
- HHS Urges Private Sector to Help Solve Health IT Problems
- ONC Panel Pushes for Greater Transparency in Providers' Measures for Health Data Security
Instead of introducing new quality measures and EHR functionalities at the same time, the HIT Policy Committee may adopt a "phase in" approach. In 2013, healthcare providers would be required to meet core meaningful use objectives, increased performance thresholds and new quality measures. However, they would not be required to implement new EHR functionalities until 2014, according to the news report.
The newly released proposed rule for accountable care organizations and impending ICD-10 requirements further complicates the meaningful use deadlines. Under the proposed phase-in approach, EHRs would not have the functionalities that are necessary for ACOs. In the next several months, CMS will be monitoring providers' progress to determine how their experiences may affect deadlines, according to the news report.
Read the news report about meaningful use deadlines.
Read other coverage about meaningful use:
- Ambulatory EMRs May Not Achieve Meaningful Use, Despite High Levels of Confidence
- HHS Urges Private Sector to Help Solve Health IT Problems
- ONC Panel Pushes for Greater Transparency in Providers' Measures for Health Data Security