Meaningful Use
By focusing on the effective use of EHRs with certain capabilities, the HITECH Act makes clear that the adoption of electronic health records is not a goal in itself: it is the use of EHRs to achieve health and efficiency goals that matters. HITECH’s incentives and assistance programs seek to improve the health of Americans and the performance of their health care system through meaningful use of EHRs to achieve five health care goals:
- To improve the quality, safety, and efficiency of care while reducing disparities;
- To engage patients and families in their care;
- To promote public and population health;
- To improve care coordination; and
- To promote the privacy and security of EHRs.
In the context of the EHR incentive programs, demonstrating meaningful use is the key to receiving the incentive payments. It means meeting a series of objectives that make use of EHRs’ potential and relate to the improvement of quality, efficiency and patient safety in the healthcare system through the use of certified EHR technology.
Three Stages of Meaningful Use:
There are three stages of meaningful use beginning with stage 1 in 2011 and increasing to stage 3 in 2015. Providers participating in this program need to meet Stage 1 Meaningful Use in the first year of meaningful use demonstration prior to 2015. All providers will need to meet stage 3 Meaningful Use in 2015.
Table 1: Stage of Meaningful Use Criteria by Payment Year
| First Payment Year |
Payment Year |
| 2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
| 2011 |
Stage 1 |
Stage 1 |
Stage 2 |
Stage 2 |
Stage 3 |
| 2012 |
|
Stage 1 |
Stage 1 |
Stage 2 |
Stage 3 |
| 2012 |
|
|
Stage 1 |
Stage 2 |
Stage 3 |
| 2014 |
|
|
|
Stage 1 |
Stage 3 |
| 2015 |
|
|
|
|
Stage 3 |
Adopting, Implementing, or Upgrading (AIU) Certified EHR Technology A first year exception to meaningful use:
Eligible Providers (professionals and hospitals) in 2011 may demonstrate that they have adopted (e.g. acquired, purchased or secured access to), implemented (e.g. installed or commenced utilization of) or upgraded to certified EHR technology in order to qualify for an incentive payment. Because certified technology will only become available in late 2010, OHP expects all providers will need to adopt, implement, or upgrade and will be able to take advantage of this first year exception to reporting meaningful use.
Demonstration of Meaningful Use:
Providers must meet specific meaningful use objectives and report these to Medicaid. In the first year that a provider demonstrates meaningful use, compliance must be demonstrated for any continuous 90-day period during the payment year. Demonstration of meaningful use for all subsequent years must be demonstrated for the entire payment year.
In 2011, providers that are not taking the AIU exception must attest that meaningful use has been met. Attestation is accepted for demonstration of all meaningful use measures, including clinical quality measures.
Starting in 2012, attestation will continue for most of the meaningful use objectives but providers will need to electronically submit clinical quality measures.
Meaningful use data must be based on encounters at locations that certified EHR technology is available. Also, Meaningful use must be reported from all FQHC/RHC locations that a provider practices.