LEAWOOD, KS – The American Academy of Family Physicians and its Center for Health Information Technology say that proposed meaningful use regulations would pose hurdles that challenge small- and medium-size medical practices’ ability to achieve incentive payments for the use of electronic health records.

In December, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services published regulations that set out the definitions and processes required for doctors and hospitals to receive incentive payments for meaningful use of certified electronic health records technology. It also set the criteria and standards for certified EHR technology.

The federal regulations lay a foundation for improving the quality, efficiency and safety of the nation’s healthcare through the use of certified EHR technology. However, the meaningful use criteria and timeline may make it more difficult for physicians in small- and medium-size practices to qualify for the incentive payments, according to the AAFP.

The AAFP has been a strong advocate for the adoption of health IT for the past decade.

“The new meaningful use regulations dictate objectives that align with the AAFP’s mission,” said Steven Waldren, MD, director of the AAFP Center for Health IT. “We are specifically encouraged by their focus on care coordination, quality and patient-centered care.”

The “meaningful uses” of EHR technology described in the regulations include electronic medication prescribing, clinical decision support at the point of care, analysis and reporting of evidence-based measures of quality and performance, and the sharing of health information and educational resources with patients.

The AAFP also has strongly supported the interoperable computerized exchange of health data, a key element of meaningful use.

The academy is expected to provide constructive feedback for improvement in its formal response to HHS before the deadline at the end of February.

“We want the EHR incentive program to succeed,” Waldren said. “And we hope our suggestions will improve its chances of transforming healthcare for the better.”