Breaking Down the Role of Patient Engagement in Meaningful Use

Patient engagement plays a great role in meaningful use, despite much industry debate and conflicting interests.

Patient engagement is not just a new patient-centered care philosophy. For providers and hospitals participating in the EHR Incentive Programs, patient engagement is a critical part of receiving incentive payments.

Between the different stages of meaningful use and new rule proposals amending the program, the requirements for patient engagement are not always clear. Below is a summary of all of the information providers and hospitals need to know about patient engagement requirements in meaningful use:

At the moment, the patient engagement measures for Stage 2 of meaningful use are as follows:

• One patient seen by an eligible provider during an EHR Incentive Program reporting period must view, download, or transmit their electronic health data.
• One patient seen in an eligible hospital or critical access hospital during an EHR Incentive Program reporting period must view, download, or transmit their electronic health data...