This week, HIMSS helped us all gain clarity around the "meaningful use of certified EHR technologies". This is a good step to providing a shared vision of 'meaninful use' as outline in ARRA.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) base component is for multiple years of Medicare incentive payment to Care Delivery Organizations (Hospital and Physicians) who meet the requirement of "meaningful use of certified EHR technology"
In summary, HIMSS recommends the following:
- To ensure continuity, recognize CCHIT as the certifying body of EHRs.
- To achieve incremental maturation of "meaningful use," adopt metrics that can be reasonably captured and reported beginning in FY11/2011,* and then made increasingly stringent using intervals of not less than two years. HIMSS' definitions include specific metrics to enact, in phases, over a multi-year period.
- To bridge existing gaps in interoperability of health information, coordinate with HITSP and IHE to create new harmonized standards and implementation guides.
- Reconcile the gap between "certified EHR technologies," "best of breed," and "open source" technologies.
Very good links to information were provided:
- The HIMSS definition for meaningful use of technology in hospitals
- The HIMSS definition for meaningful users of EHR technology
- The HIMSS letter sent to ONC and CMS
Key Dates to remember:
- ARRA requires the hospital-focused definition to be effective FY11 (October 1, 2010).
- For meaningful users (physicians), the definition must be effective January1, 2011.
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Welcome to the Healthcare IT Project Management Blog of Elyse Nielsen. This is the place where I share the ideas I have learned, the things I’d like to remember, and my thoughts for a brighter future. Find out more.
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