CSC: Focus on coordination, engaging patients for MU Stage 2
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“Stage 2 is coming soon and a full year of operational use of capabilities will be required (rather than the three months for Stage 1),” wrote authors Erica Drazen and Jane Metzer in "Moving Ahead with Stage 2 of Meaningful Use," published in February. “Waiting until the final rule is issued to start moving is simply not an option.”
A final rule is expected in July 2012, but based on early attester information provided by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and a survey of College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME) members, the report predicted that Stage 1 menu options, or optional requirements, will become core requirements under Stage 2.
Based on survey results and the information provided by the CMS, CSC researchers determined the Stage 1 optional and core requirements that providers were most likely to defer or to seek exemption from were those concerning quality reporting, engaging patients and coordinating care.
The survey results, which included responses from individuals representing 80 organizations, revealed that one-half of respondents deferred menu options because their organization was not ready and that 28 percent deferred menu options due to vendor product readiness.
In terms of challenges for Stage 2, only 25 percent of respondents said they were prepared for a requirement for electronic physician notes, only 24 percent said they were prepared to transmit summary-of-care records at transitions in care and only 12 percent said they were prepared to begin allowing patients to view and download their EHR information.
A majority of respondents said they were prepared for an increase in the threshold for electronic medication orders from 30 to 60 percent of patients, for using computerized provider order entry for laboratory orders and for having electronic medication administration.
Additionally, 25 percent of respondents reported that they have already attested for payments through the meaningful use incentive program, 52 percent reported that they plan to attest in 2012 and all respondents reported that they plan to attest by 2013.
Based on their findings, researchers recommended that organizations begin preparing to enable the electronic capture of physician notes, enable the exchange of patient information at transitions in care and provide patients with access to their health information via patient portal or directly from EHR systems.
“Now is the time for organizations to work in earnest to build capabilities to engage patients, coordinate care and electronically report on quality,” Drazen and Metzer wrote. “The importance of these requirements goes beyond meeting the incentives of meaningful use. Patient engagement will be essential to enable patients to share accountability for their care and achieve better health outcomes.”
Read the report in its entirety here.