The numbers are in and meaningful use of electronic health records appears to be working as some states use the program to deliver better coordinated care at lower cost while improving overall patient health, according to a report by HealthIT Buzz.
Specifically, Maine, Ohio and Kentucky have demonstrated success in meaningful use by using CMS' EHR Incentive Program as a building block for care management.
• Ohio — Under the leadership of Ohio Gov. John Kasich's Office of Health Transformation, the pursuit of meaningful use is enabling broad health transformation, such as the modernization of the state's Medicaid program as well as diverse performance improvement programs. Ohio has successfully paid more than 6,700 eligible providers and more than half of eligible hospitals for the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs, totaling more than $126,131,000 in incentive payments, according to the report.
• Kentucky — Providers and hospitals in Kentucky have received $115 million in incentive payments for meaningful use, and the ONC-funded regional extension center and HIE programs interface with nearly 95 percent of critical access hospitals in Kentucky.
In addition, the CDC, the Kentucky Cancer Registry and the KY Health Information Exchange partnered with a dermatologist in Paducah, Ky., and an EHR vendor to successfully create a continuity of care document — a document that provides a patient summary of relevant administrative, demographic and clinical facts about a patient — an important component of Stage 2 meaningful use requirements.
• Maine — Supported by HealthInfoNet, the regional extension center and the statewide health information exchange, clinicians across Maine share important patient information in order to drive private, secure and effective care coordination across the community and the state, according to the report. Roughly 1.1 million individuals have records in the statewide HIE, and 83 percent of Maine's population, 30 of Maine's 39 hospitals and more than 300 ambulatory sites are now connected, according to the report.
ONC Creates Meaningful Use Dashboard With EHR Incentive Program Payment Data
Audit Finds CMS Needs Better Quality Oversight Before Paying Meaningful Use Incentives
Specifically, Maine, Ohio and Kentucky have demonstrated success in meaningful use by using CMS' EHR Incentive Program as a building block for care management.
• Ohio — Under the leadership of Ohio Gov. John Kasich's Office of Health Transformation, the pursuit of meaningful use is enabling broad health transformation, such as the modernization of the state's Medicaid program as well as diverse performance improvement programs. Ohio has successfully paid more than 6,700 eligible providers and more than half of eligible hospitals for the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs, totaling more than $126,131,000 in incentive payments, according to the report.
• Kentucky — Providers and hospitals in Kentucky have received $115 million in incentive payments for meaningful use, and the ONC-funded regional extension center and HIE programs interface with nearly 95 percent of critical access hospitals in Kentucky.
In addition, the CDC, the Kentucky Cancer Registry and the KY Health Information Exchange partnered with a dermatologist in Paducah, Ky., and an EHR vendor to successfully create a continuity of care document — a document that provides a patient summary of relevant administrative, demographic and clinical facts about a patient — an important component of Stage 2 meaningful use requirements.
• Maine — Supported by HealthInfoNet, the regional extension center and the statewide health information exchange, clinicians across Maine share important patient information in order to drive private, secure and effective care coordination across the community and the state, according to the report. Roughly 1.1 million individuals have records in the statewide HIE, and 83 percent of Maine's population, 30 of Maine's 39 hospitals and more than 300 ambulatory sites are now connected, according to the report.
More Articles on Meaningful Use:
21% More Physicians Adopting EHRs to Meet Meaningful UseONC Creates Meaningful Use Dashboard With EHR Incentive Program Payment Data
Audit Finds CMS Needs Better Quality Oversight Before Paying Meaningful Use Incentives