Washington Debrief: Is Meaningful Use In Danger?

New MU Rule Receives More Attention

Key Takeaway: More groups weighed-in on the new meaningful use (MU) rule, allowing providers to meet MU through alternative pathways in 2014. Concerns mount over full-year EHR reporting period coming Oct. 1, 2014.

Why it Matters: Health IT executives must quickly understand what options pertain to them in 2014. Regardless of which new pathways is taken, most hospitals are expected to have 2014 Edition EHRs implemented and configured to Stage 2 measures by Oct. 1, 2014 – the beginning of Fiscal Year 2015.

In the week following publication of a final MU Modifications rule, stakeholders across the country lent their voice to a growing chorus of disenchantment over the 2015 EHR reporting period. Executives from the American Hospital Association (AHA) to the AMA (American Medical Association (AMA), CHIME to MGMA (Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) and individual CIOs expressed thanks for the flexibility, but worried it would not be enough.  Several media outlets reported reactions that focused on the limited time providers have to take advantage of new flexibilities and they questioned whether hospitals, especially, would be able to take advantage of flexibilities and keep pace with 2015 reporting requirements. It is unclear what, if any, means of relief might be made available to providers who are not Stage 2 ready Oct. 1, 2014...