Complying with the government's "meaningful use" definition to qualify for federal incentives will require a balancing act between improving patient care and using IT, according to experts.
Martin Harris, MD, CIO at the Cleveland Clinic and a member of the government’s Health IT Policy Committee views the proposed meaningful use definition, unveiled on Dec. 30, as designed to engage patients and families, while ensuring privacy and security, It’s also aimed at making it possible for doctors to start thinking about broader public health efforts and the elimination of health disparities, he said.
The government was determined not to set the bar too high at first, he said, while ensuring that the process doesn't stymie IT innovation.
Harris. chairman-elect of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society board of directors, made his remarks during a recent HIMSS online forum on meaningful use.
Harris, who cautioned that his advice should not replace legal counsel, said qualified providers seeking bonus incentives under the proposed meaningful use regulation beginning in 2011, must be able to use certified electronic health records in a prescribed way, effectively communicate across the continuum of care and measure what they are doing through a series of prescribed metrics.
The proposed rule has allotted for providers to meaningfully use electronic health records for 90 continuous days to satisfy requirements their first year. Subsequent years will require meaningful use for an entire year, Harris said.
Glen Tullman, CEO of Allscripts, said there has been a lot of discussion about balancing adoption. "I’m taking a contrarian view," he said. "No one has to participate in this program. If people think it's too fast, they can take their time. But, if they want incentives, then you have to start now."
The 556-page proposed rule on meaningful use was published Jan. 13 in the Federal Register, which started the clock ticking on a 60-day comment period. The government will review the comments and issue a final rule sometime in late spring of 2010.
Karen Bell, MD, former acting deputy for the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, said public comments would be critical to shaping the final rule.
