Despite concerns from the health care industry, CMS still is on target to release by the end of the year a proposed rule on the "meaningful use" of electronic health records, Government Health IT reports.
The federal stimulus package includes Medicare and Medicaid incentive payments for health care providers who demonstrate meaningful use of EHRs.
Concerns
At a National Committee on Vital and Health Statistics meeting on Thursday, Tony Trenkle -- director of CMS' Office of e-Health Standards and Services -- said many people in the health care industry have expressed "concerns and fears" about what will be included in CMS' meaningful use regulation.
He said the concerns include:
- Whether the industry will be able to meet meaningful use targets;
- Whether hospitals' outpatient clinics will be able to receive separate payments; and
- Whether quality measures will put specialty health care providers at a disadvantage.
In addition, states are concerned about whether CMS will be able to harmonize Medicare and Medicaid requirements.
Recommendations
At the conclusion of its meeting on Friday, NCVHS plans to send a letter to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius with recommendations on meaningful use criteria (Robinson, Government Health IT, 11/19).