During a meeting on Wednesday, the Health IT Policy Committee began discussing provisions that could be included under Stage 3 of the meaningful use incentive program, Healthcare IT News reports.
Under the 2009 federal economic stimulus package, health care providers who demonstrate meaningful use of certified electronic health records can qualify for Medicaid and Medicare incentive payments.
Details of the Discussion
Paul Tang — chair of the committee’s meaningful use work group, and chief innovation and technology officer of the Palo Alto Medical Foundation — said the same process used to develop stages 1 and 2 will be used for Stage 3. He added that the meaningful use work group will rely heavily on public comment.
Gayle Harrell, a committee member and Florida state legislator, said the Policy Committee already is learning from experiences with stages 1 and 2. She said specialty care providers should be considered in Stage 3 because “75% of the cost of care is provided by specialists.” She added that every specialty should have the ability to qualify for meaningful use.
Some committee members cautioned against developing requirements that could be too stringent.
Harrell said that it is important to create criteria that can be harmonized with other federal health care requirements so that Stage 3 is not too burdensome.
Neil Calman, a committee member from the Institute for Family Health, said officials should “pull back” on Stage 3 criteria because health care providers will be working to fulfill accountable care organization requirements. ACOs are designed to increase health care provider collaboration to improve care and lower cost (Manos, Healthcare IT News, 11/10).
Source: iHealthBeat
