Meaningful Use

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) provides incentives to healthcare providers that become meaningful users of certified electronic health records (EHR) to:

• Improve quality, safety, efficiency, and reduce health disparities
• Engage patients and families
• Improve care coordination and population and public health
• Maintain privacy and security

In plain language what is MU?

• It includes ways of using technology to improve the way we deliver care
• “Meaningful Use” is really just a label for best practices
• It helps to distinguish the use of technology versus using technology effectively
• Is ultimately about healthcare transformation

What are the main components of MU?

• Demonstrate the use of certified EHR technology in a meaningful manner
• Use EHR technology in a manner that provides for the electronic exchange of health information to improve the quality of care
• Use certified EHR technology to submit clinical quality and other measures

Each of the above areas has an associated set of underlying requirements

To qualify as a Meaningful User, providers must use certified EHR technology. The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) within the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), approve the organizations that will conduct the certification testing. These organizations, called ONC-Authorized Testing and Certification Bodies (ONC-ATCB) are authorized to test and certify both complete EHR systems as well as EHR modules.

I have included a few videos below that go into just about every aspect of meaningful use.  Although the humor used in them is a bit “sad”, for lack of a better description they are informative.

This series covers the ARRA legislation, the MU final rule, specific MU measures, what an EP, EH, CAH, and dozens of other acronyms mean, payments, how to collect your funds, strategies for selecting an EHR a well as using them to capture MU data.

Overview

Brief History

A brief history of meaningful use.

Eligible Professionals

A quick description of how the ARRA Legislation has defined Eligible Professional.

4. Medicare

A quick explanation of the Medicare Meaningful Use program and the money that can be made by participating in it.

5. Medicaid

An overview of the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program for Meaningul Use.

6. Why Meaningful Use Matters

ARRA MU Goals and why meaningful use (MU) matters to all physicians

7. Meaningful Use and ATCBs

The JHDG Meaningful Use Video Blog Episode 7 – Drew Nietert has a discussion around Certified Technologies and the ATCB’s – Authorized Testing and Certification Bodies for meaningful use (MU).

8. Meaningful Use Resources

In this episode we encounter Dr. Drew and discuss CMS, ONC, EHR Vendors, REC’s, some web sites and consulting groups as options for getting your organization to meaningful use.

9. Patient Experience

Dr. Drew exams a young lady but is confounded by her problem, while Drew explains away the fears of most physicians surrounding documenting MU. Also, a conspiracy theorist interrupts the show by hacking the feed and expounding upon his view of why the government’s only social stigma targets are smokers!

10. Status Update

A quick status update on the Medicare and Medicaid incentive programs discussing payments, and select EHRs

11. Medicaid Legislation Update

The new Medicaid Extenders Act allows for all providers to recieve the maximum incentive funds available so long as the Medicaid patient thresholds are met.