Electronic Health Records:
What About 'Meaningful Use?'
Published on Mon Sep 06, 2010
Check out CMS's Final Rule to get the scoop on meaningful use requirements. Ever since CMS representatives began talking about the electronic health record (EHR) incentive program, they've been tossing around the phrase "meaningful use," but many practices are still unclear of what that means. Fortunately, CMS elucidated the mystery behind meaningful use last month, and you can investigate the facts on the agency's Web site. Background: The maximum $44,000 per-physician incentive bonus connected to use of EHRs is only available to "meaningful users" of the technology. CMS administrators spent months working on a concrete definition of meaningful use, and last month announced the specific requirements that practices would have to meet to qualify. Practices who intend to qualify as meaningful users will have to use a certified EHR in a meaningful manner (e.g.: e-Prescribing), use the EHR to electronically exchange health information to improve quality of healthcare, and use [...]