Industry stakeholders have begun to comment on CMS’ decision to adjust the timeline of the meaningful use program.
Under the 2009 federal economic stimulus package, health care providers who demonstrate meaningful use of certified electronic health record systems can qualify for Medicaid and Medicare incentive payments.
Background
On Friday, federal officials announced that CMS has proposed delaying the start of Stage 3 of the meaningful use program, while the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT has proposed adjustments to its certification process.
Under CMS’ revised meaningful use timeline:
Stage 2 would be extended through 2016; and
Stage 3 would begin in 2017 for health care providers who have completed at least two years in Stage 2 of the program.
Notices of proposed rulemaking expected to be released by CMS and ONC in the fall of 2014 will offer additional details on the new proposed timeline.
The final rule on Stage 3 of the meaningful use program is expected to be released in the first half of 2015 (iHealthBeat, 12/6).
CHIME’s Reaction
Russell Branzell, CEO of the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives, said the group is “pleased that ONC and CMS in particular have provided some flexibility for Stage 3 and back-end Stage 2 deployment of software” (Hagland, Healthcare Informatics, 12/6).
However, CHIME confirmed with CMS that the announcement will not delay the start date for Stage 2 of the meaningful use program (Goedert, Health Data Management, 12/7).
In a release, CHIME stated that the proposed Stage 2 extension and Stage 3 delay “does not change front-end requirements for meaningful use in 2014 and does not afford much needed flexibility to providers working to install and upgrade new technology” (CHIME release, 12/6).
“We still believe there’s going to be a pressure point in 2014 for ICD-10 and Stage 2,” Branzell said, adding, “CHIME still wants to ensure that those eligible hospitals and providers that need flexible timing to meet the requirements of ICD-10 and Stage 2 can do it in a reasonable sequencing” (Healthcare Informatics, 12/6).
Branzell said that CHIME will continue to work with CMS and lawmakers in hopes to shift reporting periods and increase flexibility for providers trying to comply with meaningful use and ICD-10 requirements (Health Data Management, 12/7).
HIMSS’ Reaction
In a statement, Thomas Leary — vice president for government relations at the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society — said that group was “gratified” by the decision to extend Stage 2 of the meaningful use program by one year.
However, HIMSS soon amended its statement to note that, “After further analysis of the government’s decision to extend meaningful use Stage 2 through 2016, we believe our call for actionto extend year 1 of the meaningful use Stage 2 attestation period still needs to be addressed.”
The group said it will “call on the government to address the timeline and allow at least 18 months in which eligible hospitals and eligible providers can attest to meaningful use requirements for one quarter” (McCann, Healthcare IT News, 12/6).