GOP Doctors Caucus want MU Stage 3 delay, blanket hardship exemption
The GOP Doctors Caucus seeks a delay Meaningful Use (MU) Stage 3 and a blanket hardship waiver for Stage 2, according to a letter sent to House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.).
The 18-member caucus wants to work with Ryan because they said the final rule, released in October, "pushed forward" MU "in the face of bipartisan, bicameral opposition."
Also, the caucus said by delaying the release of the modification rule, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services put physicians in an "untenable" position. The inability for many to meet MU in 2015 is a problem "created by CMS."
The caucus asks that the "deeply flawed Stage 3 rule" be delayed, saying that "legislative remedy is the only way to ensure providers are protected" and needed to "prevent the harmful effects" of the rule.
The lawmakers said they would work with Ryan "to find an appropriate legislative vehicle to protect patients" and implement MU changes.
Editor Beth earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and master’s in health communication. She has worked in hospital, academic and publishing settings over the past 20 years. Beth joined TriMed in 2005, as editor of CMIO and Clinical Innovation + Technology. When not covering all things related to health IT, she spends time with her husband and three children.