"In today’s final rule, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has made some important improvements. However, the American Hospital Association (AHA) remains concerned that the requirements may be out of reach for many of America’s hospitals,"
- Rich Umbdenstock, president and CEO, American Hospital Association
"The final requirements for the meaningful use of EHRs are an improvement over previous drafts, but challenges still remain that will make it difficult for physicians to meet the requirements – especially physicians in solo and small practices."
- Steven J. Stack, MD, American Medical Association board member.
The final rules "include desperately needed flexibility that will give eligible hospitals and healthcare professionals a better opportunity to qualify for incentive funding in the early years of the program, according to an early analysis by the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME)." CHIME, a 1,400-member professional organization based in Ann Arbor, Mich., is currently conducting a closer analysis of the final rule. It plans to produce a list of questions that need clarification for the final rule, and also produce guidance and support for its members and the industry at large. - CHIME
In implementing the final meaningful use rule, CMS has made some vitally important changes that will help facilitate the rapid adoption of health information technologies, including EHRs. However, obstacles to achieving meaningful use remain for some hospitals that CMS did not address through the rulemaking process. Echoing previous comments to CMS, Premier called on Congress this week to step in and require CMS to reverse its decision to provide only a single incentive payment to co-located and multi-campus hospitals that share the same Medicare provider number. - Premier healthcare alliance
"While challenges remain, the final rule provides a better approach to the 'real-world' issues faced by practices as they move toward 'meaningful use' of EHRs, Improvements sought by MGMA contained in the final rule include a reduction in the originally unrealistic thresholds related to e-prescribing, administrative transactions and computerized physician order entry, among others,"
- William Jessee, president, CEO of the Medical Group Management Association
Health plans support the department's effort to advance greater adoption of electronic health records (EHR) through Medicare and Medicaid incentive programs. Broad adoption and meaningful use of health information technology by providers is essential to creating an efficient, high-performing 21st-century health care system. - Karen Ignagni, president and CEO of AHIP (America’s Health Insurance Plans
"The American Health Information Management Association congratulates HHS on the release of final rules regulating criteria for the electronic health record incentive program or 'meaningful use,' and the release of final criteria for EHR standards necessary for vendor products to meet meaningful use certification. As the nation's health information management leader, AHIMA and our members know all too well the failure of paper records to meet the demands of today's healthcare decision-making and are ready to ensure the proper implementation of electronic health records."
- AHIMA
