July 16, 2009
Revised definition of “meaningful use”
Termed the “north star” to guide key policy objectives, advanced care processes needed to achieve them, and the specific use of IT to enable the desired outcomes and ability to monitor objective, the initial definition of “Meaningful Use” was released by the HIT Policy Committee on June 16, 2009.
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Definition of HHS Certification
The HIT Policy Committee proposed a definition of HHS Certification
The HIT Policy Committee workgroup made the recommendation that multiple entities be allowed to perform voluntary certification testing, and the comprehensive testing, such as demanded by CCHIT, would not be a requirement for the Medicare/Medicaid incentive payments. The recommended updating for certification testing was every other year.
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June 17, 2009
CCHIT proposed the following three certification options for HIT companies, providers, and open-source developers:
- EHR Comprehensive (EHR-C). Resembles current CCHIT EHR certificate, including a “rigorous certification of comprehensive EHR systems that significantly exceed minimum federal standards.”
- EHR Module (EHR-M). A more accommodating certification option to specialized products.
- EHR Site (EHR-S). For EHR systems that are marshaled from non-certified component parts.
June 16, 2009
Meaningful Use - Defined
The initial definition for “Meaningful Use” under ARRA to qualify for stimulus dollars was released today – meeting the requirement of releasing an initial definition within 1 month of the HIT Policy Committee’s first meeting.NOTE:The committee will continue to revise this definition – so it is not final. Only an initial recommendation. Revised definitions are expected in 3 months.
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HHS Stated timelines
The Department of Health and Human Services has released the timelines planned to offer Medicare and Medicaid incentive payments for meaningful use of electronic health records systems. To cover the cost of administration, CMS has been appropriated $145 million a year for FY 2009 through 2015, and $65 million for 2016.
By the end of 2009, HHS expects to:
- Coordinate with the ONC to develop related policies for the incentive programs, such as the definition of meaningful use;
- Develop proposed rules to allow public input to the incentive program policies;
- Plan systems and other requirements to support the incentive program s; and
- Plan a national outreach program.
By the end of 2010, HHS expects to:
- Conduct outreach to eligible professionals and providers and to state Medicaid agencies;
- Develop systems to support the payment of incentives;
- Develop final rules to establish policies to pay incentives; and
- Develop systems to monitor and evaluate incentive payments.
January, 2011, Medicare and Medicaid incentives to physicians will begin.
May 13, 2009
"Meaningful Use" is not defined in ARRA. However, ARRA creates 2 new federal advisory committees: HIT Policy Committee and HIT Standards Committee. These 2 committees were just staffed last week and will be meeting for the first time this week. Working to advise the Office of National Coordinator (ONC), the trio will be looking to formally define “meaningful use.”
Under ARRA, MDs will have to choose either Medicare or Medicaid incentive programs
- Choosing Medicaid means you “waive” your right to a Medicare incentive
- Physicians under Medicaid incentives can receive up to $25,000/provider year 1 and up to $10,000/provider for 4 additional years to support “ meaningful use" of an EHR.
.jpg) Kathleen Sebelius was confirmed for the Obama cabinet position of Secretary of HHS. Former governor of Kansas, Sebelius is reputed as an experienced and successful bipartisan problem-solver who has actively reformed insurance in her own state.
 Dr. David Blumental has been named to the Office of t he National Coordinator (ONC). Blumenthal is a former Harvard Medical School Professor with vast knowledge on healthcare policy and HIT. An Internal Medicine physician, in 2007 was the senior health advisor for Obama’s presidential campaign and served on the White House Health Professional Advisory Group during the Clinton administration. Blumenthal was also a staff member of Sen. Edward Kennedy’s health and scientific-research subcommittee.
February 19, 2009
Based upon Section 4101 of Title IV of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (http://thomas.loc.gov/) , Eligible Professionals can receive incentive payments of up to $44K per provider for use of a Qualified Electronic Health Record. These incentive payments are part of a $19.2 billion investment in healthcare information technology (HIT). EHS is a Qualified Electronic Health Record (HR 1, Title XXX – HIT and Quality, Section 30 00) solution. EHS will be providing regular updates to this web page.
On Tuesday, February 17, 2009, in Denver, CO, President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), a $787 billion economic stimulus package, into law. While ARRA is a big leap toward making EHR affordable for physicians, many of the details will await the placement of key Cabinet positions, such as the Secretary of HHS, and confirmation of deputy secretaries in 13 of the 15 Cabinet departments. (Baker, New York Times, 2.18.09 ) EHS will keep you informed as these details are finalized.
 "We have done more in 30 days to advance the cause of health care reform than this country has done in an entire decade."
(Fletcher, Washington Post, 2.18 .09)
– President Obama
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 “[National healthcare IT interoperability standards] are essential to achieve the promise HIT holds to help increase patient safety, improve care coordination and reduce unnecessary paperwork … basic standards will provide the essential foundation on which the private sector can build innovative commercial products.” (Rohack, Wall Street Journal, 2.17.09)
–James Rohack
AMA President-elect
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 "[Healthcare IT] funding in this economic recovery package will help establish a system focused on two things: setting standards to make sure different systems in doctors’ offices are compatible with one another and protecting patient privacy.”
–(Tooker, Washington Times, 2.18.09)
–John Tooker
ACP Executive VP and CEO
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