Dive Brief:
- Plans to transition from the meaningful use program in 2016 will get underway this spring with the release of proposed regulations, CMS acting Administrator Andy Slavitt and National Coordinator for Health IT Karen DeSalvo wrote in a recent blog post.
- The new framework will shift CMS’ focus from measuring clicks to identifying quality outcomes, according to The CMS Blog.
- The Obama administration set a goal last year that 30% of Medicare payments in 2016 and 50% in 2018 be linked to outcomes and cost.
Dive Insight:
Slavitt announced the phase-out on Jan. 14, saying the current system was overly burdensome without recognizing the quality of care physicians provide.
The shift is fueled by the administration’s commitment to increasing value-based care and last year’s Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act, which ties Medicare physicians payments to quality, cost and patient care improvements, Healthcare IT News reports.
“While MACRA also continues to require that physicians be measured on their meaningful use of certified EHR technology for purposes of determining their Medicare payments, it provides a significant opportunity to transition the Medicare EHR Incentive Program for physicians towards the reality of where we want to go next,” wrote Slavitt and DeSalvo.
Efforts to better align MACRA, which only addresses Medicare provider payment adjustments, with the EHR incentives program for Medicare and Medicaid hospitals “won’t happen overnight,” the two warned, adding they are continuing to seek input from stakeholders.
Meanwhile, the agency will be releasing guidance on streamlining the process for granting hardship exceptions under meaningful use soon, Slavitt and DeSalvo said.