Meaningful Use

Meaningful Use Overview

The final rules for "Meaningful Use" were published 7/13/2010. The information on this page reflects the final rules. More content will be added in time.

This information attempts to simplify the discussion by focusing on explaining how medical practices seeing Medicare patients can qualify for the $44,000 ARRA bonus (over a 4 year period). It largely excludes Medicaid and Hospital related discussions. Some key points:

• An update of SOAPware v2010.2 will be certified for "Meaningful Use" very soon after it becomes possible to certify.  SOAPware versions earlier than v2010.3 will not be certified.
• Practices using SOAPware will be able to qualify for ARRA bonuses if they accomplish 20 items of the "Meaningful Use" tasks (below). There are 15 core tasks that are required and then another 5 (out of 10 choices) must be chosen.
• Bonus payments are greatest for practices ready to accomplish the MU tasks no later than October, 2011.
• Practices should focus, now, on MU Stage 1 requirements due for 2011.
• Designate an MU officer in your practice, now, to keep up with evolving rules and requirements.

Meaningful Use Tasks

Required Core Set (all are required):

1. Demographics - for Patients
2. Vital Signs
3. Problem Lists for Patient Conditions
4. Maintain Active Medications List
5. Allergy List - for Medications
   
6. Smoking Status
7. Clinical Summaries - each visit to patients
8. Provide Patients Copies of Records
   
9. E-Prescribing for 40% of Permissible Scripts
   
10. Medication Order Entry
11. Med Interactions/Alerts
    
12. Information Exchange for referrals, etc.
13. One Clinical Decision Support Rule
    

14. Data Protections

15. Report Quality Measures to CMS/states
    

Optional Menu set (select 5 of the 10):

1. Formulary Checks
   
2. Structured Lab Results
   
3. Patients Lists by Condition
4. Patient-specific educational resources
5. Medication Reconciliation - Regular Updates of Active Meds
6. Clinical summaries - at care transitions
7. Immunization Registry Reporting**
8. Surveillances Data to Public Health Agencies**
9. Patient Reminders
10. Provide Patients Access to Records
    

         **At least one of these two is required unless unavailable in the community.

Hospitals only

1. Lab Data to Public Health Surveillances
2. Advance Directives
3. Discharge Information

Removed from Phase I requirements for providers, but will be required for Stage 2 in 2013:

1. Insurance Eligibility    
2. Electronic Claims
   
    

Comments

More to come...

Blog Links

Final Rules for “Meaningful Use” for Electronic Health Records

Who Notices the Difference Between the Pumpkin and the Pie?

DrLyle’s Take on the Meaningful Use Rules 7/30/10

Other Links

Overviews:

A Physician's Guide to the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs: The Basics

The “Meaningful Use” Regulation for Electronic Health Records
Meaningful Use Standards Summary

CMS will start incentive payments in May 2011

Details:

CMS AND ONC FINAL REGULATIONS DEFINE MEANINGFUL USE AND SET STANDARDS FOR ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORD INCENTIVE PROGRAM

This section is in the process of being moved to - http://soapware.screenstepslive.com/spaces/1393/manuals/1942