Meaningful Use And Its Relevance Today With Ehr

Formally defined, meaningful use is a term used in healthcare to outline the minimum requirements for using electronic health information and electronic health records (EHRs).

In the simplest terms though, meaningful use means taking steps to boost patient care with an EHR by improving the communications between patient and provider, provider and insurance, and provider to provider.

Watch the video or read the transcript below to find out what meaningful use is and why you should make sure you’re compliant.

Using Meaningful Use To Improve Quality Of Care

The overall goal of meaningful use is to promote the adoption and use of EHRs, in turn helping to increase collaboration between clinical and public healthcare, improve patient-centric preventative care, and support the continuing development of standardized data exchanges.

In 2009, the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH) introduced programs designed to encourage EHR adoption and phase in meaningful use with EHR systems in 3 stages.

Among the other benefits of using electronic health records, one of the main methods used for encouraging adoption was a reimbursement program spanning from 2011–2015, where during that time if you were able to demonstrate meaningful use you were offered financial incentives.

What Is Meaningful Use In Healthcare?

At the start, reimbursements were given for showing meaningful use with an EHR, but now since 2015 if you don’t show proof of meaningful use, then you’re subject to penalties for the next year on Medicare reimbursements.

When eligible providcers don’t meet the requirements for meaningful use by 2015 they become subject to payment adjustments to their medicare reimbursements that start at 1% per year, up to a maximum 5% annual adjustment.

The main focus of Stage 1 is the promotion and implementation of certified EHR technologies. Requirements for Stage 1 are fairly straightforward—clinical data needs to be electronically captured and patients need to have the ability to access a digital copy of their own health records.

The Importance Of Emr Technical Support & Interconnectivity

Stage 2 builds on the initial adoption of EHRs, this time emphasizing their meaningful use. Focusing primarily on internal needs, during Stage 2 the requirements for meaningful use expand to include the ability to exchange patient information and, as a result, improve care coordination.

With a larger system now in place, during Stage 3 requirements for meaningful use will include more advanced technologies like EHR system securities, e-prescriptions, and patient portals.

There are 15 final requirements you need to meet in order to prove meaningful use of your EHRs. Listed based on the stage they should be implemented, these requirements include:

Stages Of Meaningful Use

Record Nations has helped healthcare providers including Children’s Medical Center and Kaiser Permanente to find EHR systems to meet their needs and CMS standards. Join them and many others by filling out our form or giving us a call at (866) 385-3706 for a free no-obligation quote from providers near you.

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.OkMeaningful Use Definition, Stages 1, 2 & 3 'Meaningful Use' is a term used in relation to the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs (now known as the Medicare Promoting Interoperability Program) established by CMS in 2011. Compliance with meaningful use requires the use of certified EHR technology in a meaningful manner (for instance, electronic prescribing) thereby ensuring that it is connected in a manner that provides for the electronic exchange of health information to improve the quality of care. The provider must use the certified EHR technology and submit information on quality of care and other measures to the Secretary of Health & Human Services (HHS). ‘Meaningful Use’ is the general term for the Center of Medicare and Medicaid’s (CMS’s) electronic health record (EHR) incentive programs that provide financial benefits to healthcare providers who use appropriate EHR technologies in meaningful ways; ways that benefit patients and providers alike. The Medicare and CHIP Reauthorization Act of (MACRA) 2015 established the Quality Payment Program (QPP). The Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) is one of two ways that eligible professionals and hospitals can participate in QPP. Effect of MACRA on Meaningful Use The Medicare EHR Incentive Program, aka Meaningful Use, was transitioned to become one of the four components of the new MIPS. MIPS consolidates three fee-for-service programs – the Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS), the Value-Based Payment Modifier Program(VBM) and the Medicare Electronic Health Records (EHR) Incentive Program which has been renamed as the Promoting Interoperability category in 2018 – into one fee-for-value program. Image Source: https://www.healthit.gov/topic/meaningful-use-and-macra/meaningful-use With the MACRA Promoting Interoperability category came a stronger push for interoperability. Participants must report the required measures under each of the four objectives below, or claim exclusions if applicable: ePrescribing, Health Information Exchange Provider to Patient Exchange Public Health and Clinical Data Exchange As noted, these objectives are similar to the requirements for the Meaningful Use program. HITECH Act of 2009 Commenced Push for Adoption and Meaningful Use of EHR The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 was primarily intended to help the country recover from the Great Recession of 2008. However, it also contained measures aimed at providing investments in health and science technology, among others. As part of ARRA, the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH) had a major impact on healthcare as it pushed for the nationwide adoption and “meaningful use” of electronic health records (EHRs). Meaningful Use and Health Outcomes According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the concept of “meaningful” use or MU is anchored on five health outcomes pillars. These are: Improving quality, safety, efficiency, and reducing health disparities Engage patients and families in their health Improve care coordination Improve population and public health Ensure adequate privacy and security protection for personal health information The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) for Health IT have been leading MU’s phased implementation, which occurred in stages. The ONC has noted on its website that the Advancing Care Information category (which in 2018 was renamed Promoting Interoperability or PI) within the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System or MIPS supplants meaningful use. However, it would still be extremely useful to have a familiarity with the background and evolution of MU to better understand what’s coming in the future. Meaningful Use Stages According to the CDC’s MU website, “in order to encourage widespread EHR adoption, promote innovation and to avoid imposing excessive burden on healthcare providers, meaningful use was showcased as a phased approach, which is divided into three stages.” This incremental implementation began with data capture and sharing in 2011 and moved up to advanced clinical processes in 2013 and then included improved outcomes in 2015. What is Stage 1 of Meaningful Use? For Meaningful Use Stage 1, the 15 core objectives for Eligible Professionals (EPs) were: Use CPOE for medication orders directly entered by any licensed healthcare professional who can enter orders into the medical record per state, local and professional guidelines. Implement drug-drug and drug-allergy checks. Maintain an up-to-date problem of current and active diagnoses Maintain active medication list Maintain active medication allergy list Generate and transmit permissible prescriptions electronically (eRx). Record patient demographics: sex, preferred language, race, ethnicity, and date of birth. Record vital signs and chart changes in the following: height, weight, blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), growth charts for children. Record smoking status for patients 13 years old or older. On request, provide patients with an electronic copy of their health information (including diagnostics test results, problem list, medication lists, medication allergies). Provide clinical summaries for patients for each office visit. Implement capability to exchange key clinical information among providers and patient authorized entities electronically. Implement one clinical decision support rule along with the ability to track compliance with the rule. Implement systems to protect privacy and security of patient data in EHR Report clinical quality measures to CMS (or, for EPs seeking the Medicaid incentive payment, the States). The 10 Menu Set Objectives for EPs, which they must report at least 5 of, were: Generate lists of patients by specific conditions to use for quality improvement, reduction of disparities, research, and outreach. Send reminders to patients per patient preference for preventive/follow-up care. (Patient preference refers to the patient's choice of delivery method between internet based delivery or delivery not requiring internet access.) Incorporate clinical lab-test results into EHR as structured data. Implement drug-formulary checks Provide patients with timely electronic access to their health information (including lab results, problem list, medication lists, allergies) within 4 business days of the information being available to the EP either through the receipt of final lab results or a patient interaction that updates the EP's knowledge of the patient's health. (Electronic access may be provided by a number of secure electronic methods like PHR, patient portal, CD, USB drive). User certified EHR technology to identify patient-specific education resources and provide those resources to the patient if appropriate. The EP who receives a patient from another setting of care or provider of care or believes an encounter is relevant should perform medication reconciliation. The EP who

Stage 2 builds on the initial adoption of EHRs, this time emphasizing their meaningful use. Focusing primarily on internal needs, during Stage 2 the requirements for meaningful use expand to include the ability to exchange patient information and, as a result, improve care coordination.

With a larger system now in place, during Stage 3 requirements for meaningful use will include more advanced technologies like EHR system securities, e-prescriptions, and patient portals.

There are 15 final requirements you need to meet in order to prove meaningful use of your EHRs. Listed based on the stage they should be implemented, these requirements include:

Stages Of Meaningful Use

Record Nations has helped healthcare providers including Children’s Medical Center and Kaiser Permanente to find EHR systems to meet their needs and CMS standards. Join them and many others by filling out our form or giving us a call at (866) 385-3706 for a free no-obligation quote from providers near you.

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.OkMeaningful Use Definition, Stages 1, 2 & 3 'Meaningful Use' is a term used in relation to the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs (now known as the Medicare Promoting Interoperability Program) established by CMS in 2011. Compliance with meaningful use requires the use of certified EHR technology in a meaningful manner (for instance, electronic prescribing) thereby ensuring that it is connected in a manner that provides for the electronic exchange of health information to improve the quality of care. The provider must use the certified EHR technology and submit information on quality of care and other measures to the Secretary of Health & Human Services (HHS). ‘Meaningful Use’ is the general term for the Center of Medicare and Medicaid’s (CMS’s) electronic health record (EHR) incentive programs that provide financial benefits to healthcare providers who use appropriate EHR technologies in meaningful ways; ways that benefit patients and providers alike. The Medicare and CHIP Reauthorization Act of (MACRA) 2015 established the Quality Payment Program (QPP). The Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) is one of two ways that eligible professionals and hospitals can participate in QPP. Effect of MACRA on Meaningful Use The Medicare EHR Incentive Program, aka Meaningful Use, was transitioned to become one of the four components of the new MIPS. MIPS consolidates three fee-for-service programs – the Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS), the Value-Based Payment Modifier Program(VBM) and the Medicare Electronic Health Records (EHR) Incentive Program which has been renamed as the Promoting Interoperability category in 2018 – into one fee-for-value program. Image Source: https://www.healthit.gov/topic/meaningful-use-and-macra/meaningful-use With the MACRA Promoting Interoperability category came a stronger push for interoperability. Participants must report the required measures under each of the four objectives below, or claim exclusions if applicable: ePrescribing, Health Information Exchange Provider to Patient Exchange Public Health and Clinical Data Exchange As noted, these objectives are similar to the requirements for the Meaningful Use program. HITECH Act of 2009 Commenced Push for Adoption and Meaningful Use of EHR The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 was primarily intended to help the country recover from the Great Recession of 2008. However, it also contained measures aimed at providing investments in health and science technology, among others. As part of ARRA, the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH) had a major impact on healthcare as it pushed for the nationwide adoption and “meaningful use” of electronic health records (EHRs). Meaningful Use and Health Outcomes According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the concept of “meaningful” use or MU is anchored on five health outcomes pillars. These are: Improving quality, safety, efficiency, and reducing health disparities Engage patients and families in their health Improve care coordination Improve population and public health Ensure adequate privacy and security protection for personal health information The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) for Health IT have been leading MU’s phased implementation, which occurred in stages. The ONC has noted on its website that the Advancing Care Information category (which in 2018 was renamed Promoting Interoperability or PI) within the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System or MIPS supplants meaningful use. However, it would still be extremely useful to have a familiarity with the background and evolution of MU to better understand what’s coming in the future. Meaningful Use Stages According to the CDC’s MU website, “in order to encourage widespread EHR adoption, promote innovation and to avoid imposing excessive burden on healthcare providers, meaningful use was showcased as a phased approach, which is divided into three stages.” This incremental implementation began with data capture and sharing in 2011 and moved up to advanced clinical processes in 2013 and then included improved outcomes in 2015. What is Stage 1 of Meaningful Use? For Meaningful Use Stage 1, the 15 core objectives for Eligible Professionals (EPs) were: Use CPOE for medication orders directly entered by any licensed healthcare professional who can enter orders into the medical record per state, local and professional guidelines. Implement drug-drug and drug-allergy checks. Maintain an up-to-date problem of current and active diagnoses Maintain active medication list Maintain active medication allergy list Generate and transmit permissible prescriptions electronically (eRx). Record patient demographics: sex, preferred language, race, ethnicity, and date of birth. Record vital signs and chart changes in the following: height, weight, blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), growth charts for children. Record smoking status for patients 13 years old or older. On request, provide patients with an electronic copy of their health information (including diagnostics test results, problem list, medication lists, medication allergies). Provide clinical summaries for patients for each office visit. Implement capability to exchange key clinical information among providers and patient authorized entities electronically. Implement one clinical decision support rule along with the ability to track compliance with the rule. Implement systems to protect privacy and security of patient data in EHR Report clinical quality measures to CMS (or, for EPs seeking the Medicaid incentive payment, the States). The 10 Menu Set Objectives for EPs, which they must report at least 5 of, were: Generate lists of patients by specific conditions to use for quality improvement, reduction of disparities, research, and outreach. Send reminders to patients per patient preference for preventive/follow-up care. (Patient preference refers to the patient's choice of delivery method between internet based delivery or delivery not requiring internet access.) Incorporate clinical lab-test results into EHR as structured data. Implement drug-formulary checks Provide patients with timely electronic access to their health information (including lab results, problem list, medication lists, allergies) within 4 business days of the information being available to the EP either through the receipt of final lab results or a patient interaction that updates the EP's knowledge of the patient's health. (Electronic access may be provided by a number of secure electronic methods like PHR, patient portal, CD, USB drive). User certified EHR technology to identify patient-specific education resources and provide those resources to the patient if appropriate. The EP who receives a patient from another setting of care or provider of care or believes an encounter is relevant should perform medication reconciliation. The EP who