John Glaser, senior special adviser to the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT, confirmed that a Health IT Policy Committee work group will release its recommendations for defining "meaningful use" of electronic health records on June 16, Health Data Management reports.
Glaser said that if the committee approves the work group's definition, it will be forwarded to ONC for consideration. The Health IT Policy Committee is scheduled to meet June 16.
The federal stimulus package requires hospitals and physicians to demonstrate meaningful use of EHRs to qualify for Medicare and Medicaid incentive payments. Under the law, HHS is required to publish a final rule on the initial definition or definitions of meaningful use by the end of 2009 (Goedert, Health Data Management, 6/10).