Meaningful Use Defined

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has announced final rules to help improve Americans’ health, increase safety and reduce health care costs through expanded use of electronic health records (EHRs).

• Click here for the announcement and a summary of the Meaningful Use Final Rules
  or download the pdf here.
• CMS Issued Fact Sheet additional details
  
• What is Meaningful Use?

The proposed rulemaking was released at the end of 2009, and since that time the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the Office of the National Coordinator (ONC), and the HIT Policy Committee, considered thousands of public comments and worked together to define requirements that will provide incentive payments to eligible providers and hospitals who achieve Meaningful Use. This provision, defining Meaningful Use, has been updated in the final rule to reflect a more flexible, consistent, and simpler message.

Some interesting changes to note in the final rule:

• More consistent message between CMS programs
• Easier calculations of measures
• Greater flexibility in achieving objectives

HealthInsight, the Regional Extension Center looks forward to working alongside you to provide resources and assistance as you take steps toward adopting, implementing, or in achieving Meaningful Use with a certified electronic health record.