EHR & the Stimulus Plan

Posted on 19. Oct, 2009 by in News & Events

Over the next several months through December 31, 2009, the Secretary of Health and Human Services through the Office of the National Coordinator (“ONC”) will be issuing initial guidance on certification and meaningful use of Electronic Health Records (“EHRs”). The Stimulus plan legislation is fast tracking initiatives and incentives for the adoption of EHRs to, among other objectives, reduce health care costs and improve coordination of care. Below is a summary of the primary processes and incentives for EHR adoption along with steps we at Practice Director are undertaking to ensure you are well prepared.

So the meaningful use, 2011 deadline, has our attention in a very, very important way. The second important issue that we have to deal with is certification. We can only compensate providers if they’re using certified records in a meaningful way.” Dr. David Blumenthal, Chair, National Coordinator for Health IT, Policy Committee Transcript, May 11, 2009.

Here’s what Practice Director is Doing:

We are closely monitoring the source of the Electronic Health Record (“EHR”) certification standards, the decisions of the Health IT Policy & Standard Committees.

The Health Information Technology (“HIT”) Standards Committee is charged with making recommendations to the Office of National Coordinator (“ONC”) and Heath and Human Services (“HHS”) Secretary in order to establish EHR standards and certification. The Inaugural Policy & Standards Committee meetings were held May 11, May 15, June 16, and June 23, 2009.

  • We have developed and continue to enhance Practice Director’s EHR with open (non proprietary) technologies to ensure flexibility to meet and exceed privacy, security and electronic exchange of health information standards as they are established.
  • We are confident Practice Director is already ahead of the curve for certification purposes to help you meet your requirement of ‘meaningful use’ of EHR technology by 2011.

“You know I believe that when we declare the standards, we shouldn’t set the bar so high, that we will leave all of rural America behind and we will leave the small doctor’s office without the ability to reach the bar, but nor should we accept the status quo.” John Halamka – Harvard Medical School – Chief Information Officer, Vice Chair, HIT Standards Committee Transcript, May 15, 2009.

Electronic Health Record Certification & Meaningful Use

  • The process for the adoption of Electronic Health Record (EHRs) certification standards and ‘meaningful use’ standards will be accomplished through the recommendation of two ONC committees, the HIT Policy Committee and the HIT Standards Committee
  • The HITECH legislation requires that not later than December 31, 2009, the Secretary shall, adopt an initial set of standards, implementation specifications, and certification criteria.

“So under the expedited process, HHS is required to publish an interim final rule with our initial set of standards implementation, specifications and certification criteria by December 31st of this year which if anybody, for folks who are aware of regulatory process, that’s really fast. Fortunately it is an interim final rule” Jodi Daniel – HIT – Director of Policy and Research ONC, May 15, 2009

American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (“ARRA”) Incentives for Meaningful use of Certified EHR’s

  • $18,000, $12,000, $8,000, $4,000, $2,000 for years 1 through 5 respectively; if you can not demonstrate ‘meaningful use’ of a ‘certified EMR’ by 2012 you will not be eligible for the entire $44,000 Medicare incentive.
  • A reduction of 1% per year of Medicare reimbursements will go into effect if meaningful use is not adopted by 2015, up to a 5% maximum reduction.
  • If meaningful use adoption does not occur during or before 2014, no incentive payments will be made.
  • The HITECH Act has provided definition guidance pertaining to ‘meaningful’ EHR use. Meaningful use includes:
    - Using a certified EHR. To date, standards for certification have not been published; the ONC is required to recommend interim standards to the Secretary of HHS by December 31, 2009;
    - E-prescribing;
    - Electronic connection in a manner that provides for the electronic exchange of health information; to date ‘connected’ standards have not been defined;
    - Submitting information specified by the Secretary, on clinical quality measures; to date, such specified measures have not been published by the Secretary.

ARRA Context

  • The Health Information Technology for Economic & Clinical Health (“HITECH”) Act titles are a significant component of the ARRA. The titles affect Optometric Doctors who by definition are “covered professionals”.
  • The Office of the National Coordinator (“ONC”) for Health Information Technology is tasked with administrating $19.2B of stimulus plan funding earmarked for the development and promotion of health information technology.
  • The ONC is headed by the National Coordinator, Dr. David Blumenthal, who in turn reports to the Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius, a member of President Obama’s cabinet.

The team at Practice Director is working diligently to stay abreast of the latest developments in this process to ensure your regulatory needs are met through the use of Practice Director’s EHR. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Please contact us for information on our EHR Incentive Plan Savings and for more information regarding EHR Certification & Meaningful Use.

Tags: , , , ,

Comments are closed.