HIMSS Suggests Stage 2 Extension

With an array of industry groups anxiously calling for a delay of meaningful use Stage 2, HIMSS has made the case for a more nuanced approach, asking federal officials to launch Stage 2 on schedule but extend year one of the attestation period.

Drawing on data from the HIMSS Analytics database, the HIMSS Board of Directors said that the timeline and certification challenges faced by eligible hospitals (EHs), eligible professionals (EPs) and technology vendors necessitate a longer attestation window.

That period should extend through April 2015 and June 2015 for EHs and EPs, respectively, they said. Such an extension would encompass 18 months in which those groups could attest to meaningful use requirements for one quarter.