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05/16/2013

Senate Confirms Tavenner as Permanent CMS Administrator

The Senate has voted to confirm Marilyn Tavenner -- former Virginia health secretary -- as CMS administrator. The vote marks CMS' first permanent chief since 2006. As CMS administrator, Tavenner is responsible for overseeing the allocation of an estimated $25 billion in federal health IT incentive payments and works on health IT policy issues. Reuters et al.

05/14/2013

ONC Issues Guidance on Stage 2 Transition of Care Requirements

The Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT recently released guidance detailing how health IT service providers can help clinicians meet transition of care measures under Stage 2 of the meaningful use program. Clinical Innovation & Technology, Health Data Management.

05/10/2013

Data Brief Details How RECs Help Mid-Level Clinicians Adopt EHRs

A new data brief from the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT outlines how regional extension centers have helped physician assistants and nurse practitioners adopt electronic health record systems and participate in the meaningful use incentive program. FierceEMR.

05/06/2013

CHIME Recommends Extension of Meaningful Use Stage 2

In a letter to six Republican senators, the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives defended the efficacy of the meaningful use program and advocated for a one-year extension of Stage 2 of the program. CHIME said that the extension would allow providers to optimize their electronic health record systems and realize the benefits of stages 1 and 2. Healthcare IT News et al.

05/02/2013

Nearly Half of Eligible Providers Have Received EHR Incentives

The latest data from CMS show that nearly half of all eligible health care professionals have received electronic health record incentive payments through the meaningful use program. According to CMS, the program to date has distributed a total of $5.2 billion in incentive payments to eligible health care professionals and nearly $8.5 billion to eligible hospitals. Modern Healthcare.

04/30/2013

Anesthesiologists Seek More Exemptions Under Meaningful Use Program

The American Society of Anesthesiologists recently sent a letter asking federal officials to continue the meaningful use hardship exemption for anesthesiologists and allow for certain additional program exemptions. EHR Intelligence, Becker's ASC Review.

04/26/2013

ONC Decertifies 2 EHR Systems Under Meaningful Use Program

The Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT has revoked certifications for two EHRMagic electronic health record systems under the meaningful use program. An ONC official said no health care providers had attested to meaningful use using the EHRMagic products but declined to say what providers should do if their EHR systems are retroactively decertified. Modern Healthcare et al.

04/24/2013

New Fact Sheet Outlines Health IT Progress Related to HITECH Act

A fact sheet from CMS and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT outlines HITECH Act-related progress, including that roughly 85% of eligible hospitals and 73% of eligible professionals are participating in the meaningful use program. EHR Intelligence, Becker's Hospital Review.

04/23/2013

Colorado Consortium Helped Boost Care via Health IT, Study Finds

A new case study from the Commonwealth Fund finds that the Colorado Beacon Consortium helped health care providers improve care through the use of health IT. The case study also outlines the challenges faced by the consortium. Government Health IT, EHR Intelligence.

04/23/2013

One in 20 Meaningful Use Attesters To Face Audits, Official Says

Robert Anthony -- deputy director of CMS' Health IT Initiatives Group -- recently announced that CMS intends to audit about 5% of all participants in the meaningful use program through a combination of approximately the same amount of prepayment and post-payment audits. Modern Healthcare.

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