Dive Brief:
- According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, only 78 hospitals nationwide have met Stage 2 Meaningful Use reporting requirements for their electronic health records. Providers that don't meet the requirements will not be eligible for federal financial incentives that are part of the program.
- Some hospitals are claiming they are not meeting the requirements for reasons beyond their control. They may fail interoperability standards because external providers can't access their data. Or providers may have the required patient portal but treat individuals without internet access.
- CMS has extended deadlines for Stage 2 requirements to 2016 and Stage 3 reporting in 2017.
Dive Insight:
CMS appears to have understood from the beginning that meeting the requirements for Meaningful Use was going to be a challenge. They have repeatedly moved back implementation timelines and have provided numerous resources and tools online to help providers meet the goals.
Moving forward with Stage 2 appears to be a challenge, but is obviously not unattainable. To be eligible for the much-needed incentives, providers are going to need an intimate relationship with their IT vendor, an in-office point person focused on the task and communication with patients regarding their role in the process.
Want to read more? You may enjoy this story on the four reasons we may see more providers suing their IT vendors.