The final rule on the meaningful use of EHRs may have been released three weeks ago, but the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid are not idly standing by.
CMS has already hosted a free training session for providers to provide more information to the final rule, certification, eligibility, various interlocking health IT programs under the Dept. of Health and Human Services.
Last week, ONC announced an education series, which will be held next week, for providers on the Medicare and Medicaid EHR incentive programs. According to the announcement, the authors of the final rule on meaningful use will be on hand to answer questions and to dig deep with specifics.
I’m sure there will be other iterations for getting providers more informed and venues to disseminate the information. ONC and CMS are doing, but the federal agencies do not want the goal of health IT adoption and the vision of an EHR for every American by 2014 to fall by the wayside. Critical mass is the key to health information exchange, which is a meaningful use criterion and delivers value across communities.
ONC and CMS understand that there’s still resistance and skepticism out in the field and a need for rallying, education and support. As many have said, this is a chance in our lifetime to get health IT adoption right to drive greater efficiency, better clinical outcomes, improved patient safety and lowered cost. But you have to get it right. ONC and CMS should continue to handhold physicians and be visible at the community level.
