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View a copy of the webinar presentation: An Update on ARRA
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What does “Meaningful Use” mean to me and my laboratory?
Overview | Incentives | EMR Certification | Meaningful Use | Integration | More Information | Request Information
Overview
The ARRA/HITECH bill was introduced in 2009, where financial incentives are being offered to both physicians and hospitals to stimulate the adoption of certified EMR technology and use it in a meaningful way. This past January, proposed Stage 1 rules and definitions for EMR certification and meaningful use criteria were published and commented on throughout the spring. On July 28, 2010, final Stage 1 rules and definitions were released. Here is a summary of what has been published thus far.
Incentives
Financial incentives are being offered to both physicians and hospitals. The total incentive that can be earned over time by physicians is $44,000 per physician. The incentive for hospitals is determined by a more complex equation, but for most hospitals, it will be over $2 million. These incentives are earned and paid out over a five- to six-year period of time, depending on the use of a certified EMR and meeting meaningful use criteria. Down the road after 2015 or so, the government is proposing a penalty of a reduction in Medicare reimbursements for those physicians and hospitals who do not comply with these EMR initiatives. For more specifics regarding incentives, download the PDF of the slides from the ARRA webinar and review slides 8-16, or go to this page, www.cms.gov/EHRIncentivePrograms/20_Eligibility.asp, on the CMS website.
EMR Certification
Use of “certified EHR technology” is a core requirement for providers and hospitals who seek to qualify to receive incentive payments authorized in the ARRA/HITECH Act for 2009. Certification assures health care providers and hospitals that the EHR technology they adopt has been tested and includes the required capabilities they need in order to use the technology in a meaningful way to improve the quality of care provided to their patients.
This summer, the ONC began accepting applications from entities and organizations interested in becoming ONC-ATCB (Authorized Testing and Certifying Bodies). As of this writing, the following two organizations were selected as ONC-Authorized Testing and Certification Bodies (ATCBs):
- Certification Commission for Health Information Technology (CCHIT) - Chicago, IL
- Drummond Group Inc. (DGI) - Austin, TX
Please note that while CCHIT is one of the ATCBs, EMRs certified by CCHIT prior to this announcement will need to reapply for certification under ONC-ATCB.
The ONC expects to have certified EMRs listed on their website by October 2010.
Will my existing EMR qualify? The answer is yes, as long as your EMR vendor applies for and obtains certification from the ONC-ATCB. We recommend that you check with your existing EMR vendor to determine their plans for certification. Some EMR vendors are not applying for certification on earlier versions of their software, and an upgrade by your organization may be necessary to qualify for incentives.
For more specifics regarding EMR certification, download the PDF of the slides from the ARRA webinar and review slides 17-23, visit http://healthit.hhs.gov/certification, or read the PDF of the certification criteria for EHR technology from the Federal Register.
Meaningful Use
In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued final regulations to implement the EHR incentive programs. The final rule on Stage 1 meaningful use was also been published in the Federal Register. As you may recall, to qualify for these financial incentives and avoid penalty, physicians and hospitals need to adopt certified EMR technology, achieve meaningful use objectives, and then apply for the incentive payment.
The summary of Stage 1 meaningful use criteria established 15 Core Objectives for providers and 14 for hospitals. Then, you must select five out of ten objectives from a Menu of Objectives, of which one must be a public health objective. In addition to that, there are six total Clinical Quality Measures required, of which three must be from core measures (or alternate core measures) and an additional three chosen out of a menu of 38 measures.
Summary of Stage 1 Meaningful Use Criteria:
- 15 Core Objectives (14 for hospitals)
- 5 out of 10 Objectives from a Menu of Objectives
- 6 total Clinical Quality Measures
- 3 from Core Measures (or alternate core measures)
- 3 out of 38 Measures from a Menu
For more specifics regarding stage 1 meaningful use criteria, download the PDF of the slides from the ARRA webinar and review slides 24-40. You may also visit www.cms.gov/EHRIncentivePrograms/, which features information about who is eligible for the programs, how to register, meaningful use, upcoming EHR training and events, and other information. Or, read the PDF of the meaningful use criteria for EHR users from the Federal Register.
What does this mean for your laboratory? Integration!
The single biggest issue facing laboratories regarding the ARRA is integration. While the proposed criteria that directly affected the laboratory was not made mandatory to meet meaningful use objectives in Stage 1, we believe, based on the ultimate goals of the HITECH program, that electronic integration of the lab to the EMR will become mandatory in later stages. Electronic integration for order entry and result delivery is the future. These integration issues will affect all labs including POLs, hospitals, and reference laboratories. The ability to integrate your laboratory to your facility’s EMR or your laboratory clients’ EMR system will be the number one issue facing all laboratories for the next couple of years.
For More Information
We encourage you to stay abreast of these proposals and determine how they will impact you. We here at Orchard will do our best to keep you aware of the proposals and final rulings for “Meaningful Use” as they are announced. We are holding complementary webinars to keep you informed and posting on this page recordings and PDFs of the slides for your review. Monitor our website regularly and check our eLABorate blog to stay abreast of this topic and of future webinar offerings. And, don’t hesitate to send us your ARRA questions via the buttons at the top and bottom of this page.
You can also use your favorite search engine to find many postings and white papers on the subject of meaningful use. Another good source will be your EMR vendor, as most EMR companies are very aware of this topic and have information on their websites.
Request Information on Meaningful Use and EMR Integration
We are experts in integration. With over 1,000 laboratory customers—including physician offices, clinics, hospitals, independent reference labs, and university student health centers, Orchard has successfully interfaced our lab systems to hundreds of instruments, healthcare information systems, reference laboratories and EMRs. As a best-of-breed vendor, our products have been designed with integration in mind. Click the link to learn more on how our lab systems and our Copia laboratory outreach and integration system aid you in EMR integration. To request more information and arrange to speak with one of our representatives about how Orchard can help your lab connect to your EMR or your clients' EMR, click the button below.