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governmental) source had been misinterpreted by another source. The
misunderstanding was soon cleared up, and by the end of the convention
everyone was on the same, correct page. We should realize that
confusion about a new program is expected and normal, even with everyone
putting forward a best effort. Some of the provisions of Meaningful Use
are baffling, sort of like the tax code—except there are no certified
accountants who have been trained in the “right” answers, and the
program is still evolving; for example, exactly how the Clinical Quality
Measures will be reported by providers in 2012 is still being decided,
and whether the onset of “Stage 2” requirements will be delayed is under
discussion.
In some ways, the newness and unfamiliarity of the incentive program
is good news! The Office of the National Coordinator is fully committed
to trying to move American health care over to the use of eHRs, and they
want the incentive program to be a success. It is unlikely that
reviewers of Meaningful Use attestation will be trying to use
“technicalities” to disqualify eligible providers from incentive
payments.. Any such petty disqualifications would likely erode
confidence that CMS actually plans to pay physicians for meaningful use
of eHRs, and that would hurt the program immensely.
But changes are happening. What this means is that EPs and their
practice manages will need a real partner in their eHR provider, one
that is actively keeping up with any and all changes and deadlines. A
big area of that partnership will be educating EPs on the difference
between the requirements covering the eHR itself, the bare-bones
requirements for the EP to show he or she is using that eHR in a
meaningful way, and any items beyond the minimal requirements that
should be considered right away. Those additional items include
time-consuming requirements for Stage 2 that need groundwork done right
now, and eventually required items that can make your (and your
patients) transition into Meaningful Use smoother.
In that regard, we are encouraging all of our customers to use secure
electronic patient portal technology right away. Not only is such secure
communication with patients an eventual requirement of Meaningful Use,
it can unburden your office staff by taking some of the Stage 1
Meaningful Use requirements off their to-do list...and yours. It also
offers other opportunities to provide patient services and grow your
practice, which are always important.
How else to avoid confusion: accept that your keeping current about
Meaningful Use—in partnership with your eHR provider—will help you
navigate away from false information that will pop up from time to time.
When discussing eHRs, realize that there is a difference between bare
eHR certification, having a work-flow in place that demonstrates
Meaningful Use, and having tested training available to you and your
staff that will get you to Meaningful Use in the shortest time. Medflow
has all three. Ask eHR providers if they are just certified, or actually
have practices doing Meaningful Use reporting—and receiving stimulus
payments! That’s the real test, and cuts through lots of confusion.
And remember that a smart part of Meaningful Use for your practice
may well be the implementation of a secure patient portal right now. It
will avoid the need for such implementation later—“let’s just get it
done now”—and decrease some office staff tasks (e.g. printing clinic
summaries) for Meaningful Use. That simplification can help you avoid
potential confusion.
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