Meaningful Use Stage 1

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The Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs provide a financial incentive for the "meaningful use" of certified EHR technology to achieve health and efficiency goals. By putting into action and meaningfully using an EHR system, providers will reap benefits beyond financial incentives–such as reduction in errors, availability of records and data, reminders and alerts, clinical decision support, and e-prescribing/refill automation. If you would like to verify eligibility for the program, visit the links below:

Find out if you are eligible for either the Medicare or Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs
Professionals and hospitals can visit here to check eligibility

Checklist for Receiving Stage 1 Dollars

Review the Criteria for Meaningful Use

Stage 1: (2011 and 2012) sets the baseline for electronic data capture and information sharing.

Stage 2: (expected to be implemented in 2013) and Stage 3 (expected to be implemented in 2015) will continue to expand on this baseline and be developed through future rule making.

Use a 2011 ARRA-Certified EHR

All certified EHR systems are required to be capable of producing reports based on all of the measures. However, if the EHR system is not utilized properly, the benefits will be lost. While all ARRA-Certified EHR meet requirements for stage 1, it is not guaranteed that the EHR chosen will comply with stage 2 requirements. It is recommended that while shopping for an EHR, certain questions should be asked regarding the chosen EHR. Has my current EHR vendor provided me with plans for incorporating stage 2 requirements due in 2013? Will they be ready? Does the software integrate efficiently with current practice processes?

Review 20 Meaningful Use Objectives

Meaningful use includes both a core set and a menu set of objectives that are specific to eligible professionals or eligible hospitals and CAHs.

For eligible professionals, there are a total of 25 meaningful use objectives.

There are 15 required core objectives.
The remaining five objectives may be chosen from the list of 10 menu set objectives.
See Checklist for Stage 1 Meaningful Use Criteria

For eligible hospitals and CAHs, there are a total of 24 meaningful use objectives.

There are 14 required core objectives.
The remaining five objectives may be chosen from the list of 10 menu set objectives.

Performance Report against Meaningful Use Objectives

Be aware that the patient percentages referenced in the measures apply to all patients, beyond only Medicare and Medicaid patients. For most of the objectives, the measures are based on unique patients seen during the period of time upon which reporting is based. Meaningful use requirements were reported via attestation in 2011, however, that will not be the case for 2012. Quality data reporting on meaningful use must be submitted electronically along with attestation for 2012.

Register at the EHR Incentive Program Website

Standard Ambulatory EHR Criteria is comprised of the following:

(A) Computerized provider order entry
Enable a user to electronically record, store, retrieve, and modify the following types: medications, laboratory; and radiology/imaging.

(B) Electronic prescribing
Enable a user to electronically generate and transmit prescriptions and prescription-related information.

(C) Record demographics
Enable a user to electronically record, modify, and retrieve patient demographic data including preferred language, gender, race, ethnicity, and date of birth.

(D) Patient reminders
Enable a user to electronically generate a patient reminder list for preventive or follow-up care according to patient preferences based on the data elements included in: Problem list, Medication list, Medication allergy list, Demographics, and Laboratory test results.

(E) Clinical decision support
1. Implement rules. Implement automated, electronic clinical decision support rules (in addition to drug-to-drug and drug allergy contraindication checking) based on the data elements included in: problem list, medication list, demographics and laboratory test results.
2. Notifications. Automatically and electronically generate and indicate in real time, notifications and care suggestions based on clinical decision support rules.

(F) Electronic copy of health information
Enable a user to create and electronic copy of a patient's clinical information, including diagnostic test results, problem list, medication list, medication allergy list and laboratory test results. This must be in human readable format.

(G) Timely access
Enable a user to provide patients with online access to their clinical information, including lab test results, problem list, medication list, and medication allergy list.

(H) Clinical summaries
Enable a user to provide clinical summaries to patients for each office visit that include diagnostic test, results, problem list, medication list, medication allergy list in human readable format.

(I) Exchange clinical information and patient summary record
Electronically transmit, receive, and display a patient's summary record, from other providers and organizations including diagnostic tests results, problem list, medication list, and medication allergy list.

(J) Calculate and submit clinical quality measures
Electronically calculate all of the core measures and in addition three clinical quality measures specified by the CMS for eligible professionals.

Resources

Meaningful Use - Stage 1 Requirements Checklist and Guide

Stage 2 Meaningful Use

Details about the EHR Certification Process

Fact Sheet: Electronic Health Records At-a-Glance

Fact Sheet: Medicare EHR Incentive Program Final Rule Overview

Fact Sheet: Meaningful Use Final Rule Overview

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

EHR Incentive Program Timeline [PDF, 422KB]

Contact Information for EHR Incentive Program Inquiries [PDF, 110KB]

Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Program Final Rule

Video on EHR Incentive Program Basics

Last Updated: April 12, 2013

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