eHealth Initiative cites inconsistent timelines for Stage 2
The Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC), in conjunction with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), must address the issue of inconsistent timelines for the meaningful use Stage 2 regulatory process, wrote healthcare nonprofit eHealth Initiative (eHI) in its comments to the ONC’s Health IT Policy Committee (HITPC) regarding Stage 2 meaningful use objectives.
The time required to assure Stage 2 readiness necessitates adequate time to develop, implement and test new functionality by all participants. "This will encourage incentive program participation and increase the likelihood of achievement of program goals,” the eHealth Initiative letter read. “Moreover, the current meaningful use Stage 2 regulatory timeline provides an inadequate amount of time for eligible hospitals to follow an implementation and testing schedule. A rushed process could potentially affect patient care.”
eHI called for an increased focus on health information exchange (HIE) in addition to a coordinated timeline for the rollout of Stage 2.
“The eHealth Initiative supports efforts that ensure that Stage 2 achieves its intended goals of acting as a stepping stone to subsequent stages of meaningful use and supports HIE,” said Jennifer Covich Bordenick, eHI's CEO.
eHI supports the ability of eligible providers and hospitals to meet the meaningful use requirements through the use of HIE, but Stage 2 requirements remain focused on EHRs and do not allow providers enough room to utilize HIE as a means to meet meaningful use requirements.
The organization supported the direction of the HITPC’s usage percentage for Stage 2 concerning the objective to provide summary of care record. “In addition, eHI recommends that the HITPC propose that a material but achievable percentage of the provision of the summary of care record must be transmitted electronically, consistent with standards-based capabilities. This approach will move the HIE objective beyond a test to support care coordination via HIE.”
In its comments, eHI also urged the ONC to work with the CMS to develop a statement of guidance resolving the issue of inconsistent timelines separating the Stage 2 regulatory process and the start of Stage 2 for providers and hospitals.
“Greater clarity from the ONC and CMS on Stage 2 timelines will encourage greater incentive program participation and increase the likelihood of achievement of program goals,” the organization noted.
eHI also urged the HIT Policy Committee to clarify or provide definitions for a number of requirements and phrases in the proposed Stage 2 objectives, including online secure messaging, active patients and longitudinal care plan.
The complete text of eHI's comments can be found on the Washington, D.C.-based organization's website.
The time required to assure Stage 2 readiness necessitates adequate time to develop, implement and test new functionality by all participants. "This will encourage incentive program participation and increase the likelihood of achievement of program goals,” the eHealth Initiative letter read. “Moreover, the current meaningful use Stage 2 regulatory timeline provides an inadequate amount of time for eligible hospitals to follow an implementation and testing schedule. A rushed process could potentially affect patient care.”
eHI called for an increased focus on health information exchange (HIE) in addition to a coordinated timeline for the rollout of Stage 2.
“The eHealth Initiative supports efforts that ensure that Stage 2 achieves its intended goals of acting as a stepping stone to subsequent stages of meaningful use and supports HIE,” said Jennifer Covich Bordenick, eHI's CEO.
eHI supports the ability of eligible providers and hospitals to meet the meaningful use requirements through the use of HIE, but Stage 2 requirements remain focused on EHRs and do not allow providers enough room to utilize HIE as a means to meet meaningful use requirements.
The organization supported the direction of the HITPC’s usage percentage for Stage 2 concerning the objective to provide summary of care record. “In addition, eHI recommends that the HITPC propose that a material but achievable percentage of the provision of the summary of care record must be transmitted electronically, consistent with standards-based capabilities. This approach will move the HIE objective beyond a test to support care coordination via HIE.”
In its comments, eHI also urged the ONC to work with the CMS to develop a statement of guidance resolving the issue of inconsistent timelines separating the Stage 2 regulatory process and the start of Stage 2 for providers and hospitals.
“Greater clarity from the ONC and CMS on Stage 2 timelines will encourage greater incentive program participation and increase the likelihood of achievement of program goals,” the organization noted.
eHI also urged the HIT Policy Committee to clarify or provide definitions for a number of requirements and phrases in the proposed Stage 2 objectives, including online secure messaging, active patients and longitudinal care plan.
The complete text of eHI's comments can be found on the Washington, D.C.-based organization's website.