WASHINGTON – On July 13, federal officials issued the final rule on how providers should demonstrate meaningful use of electronic health records if they want to qualify for federal incentives in 2011.
To receive the earliest possible incentives – which officials say should become available next May, providers would need to start collecting data beginning Oct. 1.
With so little time left to prepare, some experts are offering tips for making the most of the time available.
Capture the “right” data. According to consultants at CSC Health Services, a Falls Church, Va.-based business and technology solutions company, don’t assume that the explicit functional requirements for Stage 1 of meaningful use will provide all the required data elements for earning incentives. Inventory what is needed and identify gaps, they say.
Aim for better performance, not just measurement. According to CSC experts, decision support provides much of the value in electronic health records. It’s critical to encourage both documentation needed for quality measurement and compliance with the care recommendations behind each measure.
Make sure your electronic health records are certified. So says Justin Barnes, past chairman of the Electronic Health Record Association. Check to make sure the product you are using is on the list of approved versions for achieving meaningful use, published by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT..
For large health systems, consider implementing EHRs for physician practices first. Mitch Morris, MD, a principal in Deloitte Consulting’s life sciences and healthcare practice, says large systems, especially academic institutions, are finding they can earn three times more in meaningful use incentives for their ambulatory services than for their in-patient side. Physician incentives can then be used to foot the bill for the hospital's healthcare IT.
Don't forget to plan ahead for Stages 2 and 3, which promise to be more difficult. Some organizations are thinking in terms of Stage 1 as the finish line, Morris says. “It’s just the low end of where the bar is set,” he says.
Small physician practices should learn where to get help. Morris says doctors should talk to their admitting hospitals for recommendations. They also need to contact their regional extension center – federal offices set up across the nation specifically to help physicians navigate healthcare IT adoption and meaningful use.
