CHIME supports finalization of MU proposal, but with changes
The College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME) is calling for the swift finalization of the Meaningful Use (MU) proposed rule—but with a few revisions and clarifications.
Under the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS’) and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT’s proposed rule, eligible professionals, eligible hospitals and critical access hospitals are offered more flexibility in how they use certified EHR technology (CEHRT) to meet the MU program's requirements.
"CHIME supports the new pathways as defined in the proposed rule. We believe these options will provide needed flexibility for EHR optimization, encourage continued participation in the program and help maintain the upward trajectory of EHR adoption in the U.S.," according to official comments.
CHIME is requesting some modifications, however, including that CMS allows providers to choose any three-month quarter for an EHR reporting period in the next federal fiscal year or calendar year to qualify for MU in 2015. As currently structured, the program requires providers to report a full year of data to qualify for incentives.
"We believe this change will have a dramatically positive effect on program participation and policy outcomes sought in 2015. The additional time afforded by this modification would help hundreds of thousands of providers meet Stage 2 requirements in an effective and safe manner,” according to CHIME.
The association also asked that the agencies delete ambiguous attestation requirements related to the definition of "fully implemented" CEHRT. "A number of CHIME members have indicated their apprehension to take advantage of the new pathways created by this notice of proposed rulemaking [because of] how this proposed rule defines 'full implementation' of CEHRT since the examples do not adequately represent their situation," CHIME stated.
CHIME also requested the agencies to "explicitly state its intentions to let providers meet MU requirements retrospectively in 2014, if they are able."
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