Group of vendors, healthcare organizations opposing MU delay

For a change of pace, a group of healthcare organizations is opposing any delay for Meaningful Use (MU).

The group sent a letter to House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.), saying that changing MU without additional reforms to improving interoperability between IT systems won't benefit providers. The letter is signed by vendors and healthcare organizations: Apervita, athenahealth, Health IT Now, Intel, National Alliance on Mental Illness, New Directions Technology Consulting, Oracle, United Spinal Association and Verizon.

"Delay without reform would rob taxpayers and patients of cost savings while doing absolutely nothing to make the program work well for overburdened doctors and hospitals," the letter says. Also, MU has failed to achieve its goals of supporting an interoperable IT system that improves care quality and lowers costs.

In calling for reform, the organizations recommend changing the law regarding interoperability, including establishing a common definition of interoperability, adopting industry-developed standards for APIs, testing the interoperability of products and establishing EHR marketplaces providing all relevant data about EHRs to assist in purchasing decisions.

"We have worked constructively with the administration since the [HITECH Act] was passed on ways to improve the program and to facilitate interoperability," the letter reads. "While we have made progress, it is clear to us that the administration will need legislative support to effectively facilitate interoperability."