On March 20, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC), and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that the latest proposed ruling on Stage 3 Meaningful Use requirements have been released for public comment.
The announcement emphasizes how the proposed rules will give providers more flexibility under the EHR Incentive Programs and increase EHR interoperability to improve the access and sharing of patient health information.
The healthcare industry as a whole is currently processing the proposed ruling and preparing to contribute during the comment period. Some public statements about the Stage 3 Meaningful Use proposed ruling from leading organizations have been released.
A statement from the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME) said: “CHIME is closely evaluating both the CMS Meaningful Use rule and the ONC certification rule. Based on our initial review, we are pleased to see flexibility built into the Stage 3 proposed objectives. We are still trying to understand the implications of moving all Medicare providers to a single definition of MU by 2018, but are encouraged by the potential for this policy to simplify and streamline the long-term viability of Meaningful Use. While we and other stakeholders have been critical of the program over the last two years, we have always underscored how vital Meaningful Use is to modernizing our nation’s healthcare system. We look forward to digging further into the rule, looking for elements that will allow providers to build on their IT investments, specifically in the areas of care coordination, patient engagement and interoperability.”
“We do, however, urge CMS to quickly publish the proposed rule alluded to in Dr. Conway’s January 29 announcement. We were encouraged by the signals to shorten the 2015 EHR reporting period from 365 to 90 days and make other program improvements through a follow-on rule. We call on CMS to propose policy changes to the ‘all-or-nothing’ construct, lengthen timing between required Stage upgrades, and consider much-needed revisions to the hardship exception categories. These changes will enable far better participation among providers, which will in turn, keep them on a path towards improved care through health IT.”
With the inclusion of some more policy changes, CHIME recognizes that Stage 3 Meaningful Use regulations will play a pivotal role in expanding health IT adoption across the country and thereby improving the quality of care. Another statement comes from the American College of Cardiology President Kim Allan Williams Sr., M.D., on the organization’s reaction to the proposed ruling.
“The American College of Cardiology has long supported the adoption of electronic health records (EHRs) as a mechanism for improving patient outcomes,” Williams said. “The EHR Incentive Program as currently structured has been focused more on ‘checking the box’ than changing care delivery to achieve the goal of improved patient care.”
“Although the ACC is still reviewing the proposed regulations, the College is concerned by the proposal to require all providers, even first-time participants, to report for a full calendar year,” the American College of Cardiology President continued. “Implementing an EHR system in a physician practice or a hospital is not as simple as flipping a switch; it takes time, financial investment, careful consideration and planning, as well as education for all staff. The program must take this learning curve into consideration.”
Some players within the healthcare industry find the EHR reporting period of a full calendar year problematic and are urging CMS to transition to a 90-day reporting period instead.
Additionally, there may be too many regulations that are being put forth to advance the meaningful use of health IT systems instead of addressing the various problems in the medical industry today. A statement from the American Hospital Association (AHA) underscores this point.
“Hospitals are implementing electronic health records at a brisk pace in order to improve patient health and health care, but they must do so under the crushing weight of government regulations,” Linda E. Fishman, Senior Vice President of Public Policy Analysis and Development at AHA, said in a public statement. “The release of today’s rule demonstrates that the agency continues to create policies for the future without fixing the problems the program faces today. In January, CMS promised to provide much-needed flexibility for the 2015 reporting year, which is almost half over. Instead, CMS released Stage 3 rules that pile additional requirements onto providers. It is difficult to understand the rush to raise the bar yet again, when only 35 percent of hospitals and a small fraction of physicians have met the Stage 2 requirements.”
“We urge CMS to release the 2015 flexibility rules immediately. Information technology holds the promise of enhancing care for patients and communities,” Fishman continued. “America’s hospitals are committed to adopting technology but need today’s problems to be addressed to make progress for patients and communities.”
CMS will provide more information on public comment periods regarding the Stage 3 Meaningful Use proposed ruling shortly. To learn more about the proposed rule, click on this link.
