Healthcare interest groups and professional associations have begun to examine the final stage 2 meaningful use rule and generally the feedback is positive.
Many groups and associations submitted comments on the proposed final rule; however, not every suggestion was implemented in the final rule. For instance, the American Hospital Association appreciates that CMS addressed some of its concerns with the stage 2 proposed rule, such as allowing for a shorter meaningful use reporting period for 2014.
However, the association believes the rule has set an unrealistic date by which hospitals must achieve the initial meaningful use requirements or incur penalties, according to its statement on the final rule. The AHA also contends that CMS complicated the reporting of clinical quality measures, creating new burdens for healthcare providers.
According to its statement, the American Health Information Management Association is also happy to see that stage 2 meaningful use requirements will not begin until 2014 as opposed to the original date of 2013.
The American Medical Association is still reviewing the final rule but hopes to see some of the suggestions it made in its comments, such as greater flexibility in the program to make it more reasonable and achievable for physicians.
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