Meaningful Use

Meaningful Use

The use of certified EHR technology, referred to as “meaningful use,” is part of the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Program created to reach care and efficiency goals set by CMS. The program and its requirements are being rolled out in stages through 2016. The core objectives for meaningful use, such as having the ability to provide an electronic copy of health records to patients on request, and generate and transmit electronic prescriptions (eRx), fit into the following areas:

• Improve quality, safety, efficiency
• Engage patients and families
• Improve care coordination
• Improve public and population health
• Ensure privacy and security for personal health information

Hopefully your organization is already meeting meaningful use Stage 1 requirements, which are designed to set a baseline for electronic data capture and information sharing. If not, it isn’t too late to begin.

In August, 2012, CMS published the final rule that provides criteria for Stage 2 meaningful use, centered on healthcare interoperability and patient engagement, that must be met for continued participation in the incentive programs. As in Stage 1, all providers must meet the core objectives listed in the final rule, along with a specified number of menu objectives that they must pick from and meet, in order to achieve meaningful use compliance.

Stage 2 increases the responsibility of eligible providers (EPs) and eligible hospitals/critical access hospitals (CAHs) with an emphasis on health information exchange and EHR interoperability in order to improve care coordination for patients. For example, providers who transition a patient to another provider or care setting must provide a summary of care record at least 50% of the time. There are also requirements for the electronic exchange of summary of care records.

Axway Can Help

Meaningful use criteria can seem daunting, especially for providers that are just getting started. Axway helps healthcare organizations of all types and sizes connect and secure and share information through:

• Policy-based solutions for healthcare information exchange
• Ability to integrate with partners and other healthcare providers
• End-to-end visibility of data as it travels throughout communities
• Consolidation of new and legacy systems for faster, better control and compliance