News: CMS releases proposed rules for Stage 2 EHR meaningful use requirements
March 15, 2012
CDI Strategies - Volume 6, Issue 6
HHS proposed electronic health record (EHR) systems’ Stage 2 meaningful use requirements in a February 24 release. Meaningful use as defined during Stage 2 consists of online access for patients to their health information and electronic health information exchange between providers. Implementation is set for 2014 under the proposed rule.
Stage 2 builds upon the requirements outlined in Stage 1, including:
- Changing the denominator of computerized provider order entry (CPOE), which was optional for Stage 1 but is required for Stage 2.
- Changing the age limitations for vital signs, which was optional for Stage 1 but is also required for Stage 2.
- Eliminating the “exchange of key clinical information” core objective from Stage 1 in favor of a “transitions of care” core objective that requires electronic exchange of summary of care documents in Stage 2. This is a new requirement for Stage 2.
- Replacing “provide patients with an electronic copy of their health information” objective with a “view online, download, and transmit” core objective. This is also a new requirement for Stage 2.
The release also defined Stage 3 of meaningful use as demonstrating that the quality of healthcare has been improved. Under the proposed rule, the expected implementation date for Stage 3 will be 2016.
Click here to read the complete proposed rule on the Federal Register.