On Thursday, the American Hospital Association launched a print ad campaign that urges CMS to revise the proposed rule for the "meaningful use" of electronic health records to make them more flexible for health care providers, Health Data Management reports (Goedert, Health Data Management, 4/14).
The rule describes how providers can demonstrate meaningful use of EHRs to qualify for incentive payments under the 2009 federal economic stimulus package. The public comment period on the requirements closed last month, and CMS now is working to release the final rule by the summer (Conn, Modern Healthcare, 4/14).
The ad notes that more than 275 Democratic and Republican members of Congress have raised questions about the rule, which the ad calls "a one-size-fits-all policy that ignores upfront cost, time and logistical challenges" (Health Data Management, 4/14).
The ad urges CMS "to adopt an incremental and realistic policy, one that recognizes flexible criteria for the Medicare and Medicaid EHR incentive programs" (Modern Healthcare, 4/14).
The ad is expected to run in four Washington, D.C. congressional publications:
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CQ Today;
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CongressDaily;
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Politico; and
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Roll Call (Health Data Management, 4/14).