Diana Manos

Though many fear the timetable is cutting things too close, federal officials and industry insiders paint a picture of everything coming together in time for providers to have their electronic health record products certified to meet the meaningful use requirements by Oct. 1, when data collection is first allowed.

Hospitals are up in arms about what they consider unfair treatment in the meaningful use rule that will prevent them from earning millions of dollars in incentives. But it appears Congress might come to their rescue.

Knapp Medical Center in Weslaco, Texas, reports saving $2.8 million in one year using a performance improvement program. Knapp executives said the program, developed by the Premier health alliance, helped prevent 27 deaths, eliminate 1,304 days of care, prevent 98 readmission days and avoid complications in 28 cases.

The Department of Health and Human Services withdrew its final breach notification rule for unsecured protected health information last week, with health privacy advocates calling it "a win" for patient privacy.

The Department of Health and Human Services announced Thursday $51 million in grants to help states launch health insurance exchanges.

For 90 percent of hospital executives - including CIOs and CEOs - achieving meaningful use of electronic health records is a top priority for 2010 and 2011, according to a survey from Falls Church, Va.-based consulting firm CSC.

Even when physicians have access to e-prescribing, many do not routinely use the technology, particularly the more advanced features the federal government is promoting with financial incentives, according to a new national study released Thursday by the Center for Studying Health System Change.

At its monthly meeting held Wednesday, the HIT Policy Committee wrestled with patients' rights to opt in or opt out of health information exchange.

Authorized Temporary Certification Bodies - or ATCBs - will be ready soon, stakeholders confirm.

Federal officials responsible for writing the meaningful use rule defended it before a wary congressional panel on Tuesday.