Meaningful Use
How it Works and Eligibility | What is Meaningful Use | How to Prepare
On February 13th, 2009 the U.S. Congress passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (also known as the "Stimulus Bill), sending hundreds of billions of dollars of federal funding to lift our economy. A central component of the bill is over $30 billion in rewards for American doctors to bring electronic health records into their practices and use them to improve the health of their patients. As President Obama signed the bill into law, he declared it to be, "the most meaningful step in years towards modernizing our health care system."
How do these rewards work? Who is eligible?
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, "the stimulus bill," provides additional payments through Medicaid and Medicare to physicians that demonstrate "Meaningful EHR Use" (see below).
- Medicare: Physicians are eligible for payments equal to 75 percent of what they bill to Medicare, up to $44,000 over five years, with payments starting in 2011
- Medicaid: Office-based physicians whose patient mix includes at least 30 percent Medicaid beneficiaries (either managed care or fee-for-service) are eligible for up to $63,750
- Providers may receive either Medicare or Medicaid Meaningful EHR Use payments, but not both
On the other hand, the Act creates Medicare penalties. By 2015, physicians who have not achieved Meaningful EHR use will see their Medicare fee schedule amount reduced by 1% in 2015, by 2% in 2016, by 3% for 2017 and by between 3-5% in subsequent years.
Beginning in 2015, providers not satisfying the Meaningful Use Criteria will have their Medicare fee schedule amount reduced by 1% in 2015, 2% in 2016, 3% in 2017, and between 3 to 5% in subsequent years.
Meaningful EHR Use Medicare Incentives
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Meaningful EHR Use Medicaid Incentives
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But What Is Meaningful EHR Use?
To get full credit for using their EHR, physicians must:
- Document patient information electronically
- Use evidence-based order sets
- Apply 5 clinical decision alerts at point of care
- Report key quality measures to the Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services.
- Offer patients electronic access to their records
- Prescribe medications electronically
- Send reminders to patients in need of routine and recommended care
Click Here for a full list of the proposed Meaningful Use measures.
One of these Objectives is that a provider report specific clinical quality measures to the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Find a list of these measures click here (PDF)
How should you prepare?
By working with REACH, you are already conquering the biggest hurdle to achieving Meaningful EHR Use - implementing an EHR. Now, we will help you get the rest of the way.
As you learn more about Meaningful EHR Use, consider whether your practice is set to meet the requirements. Are you using the ePrescribe function of the EHR? Are you setting up a patient portal? The REACH team will help gauge your needs and coach you where you need it the most.
- For full details, see Health and Human Services Overview
- Questions? Join the Meaningful Use Discussion Forum