Meaningful Use Updates

As part of our thought leadership efforts, this blog provides insight into the requirements that hospitals and eligible providers must meet to achieve Meaningful Use.  Authored by our in house subject matter experts, Meaningful Use News and Updates serves as an educational forum for discussions on the intricacies and steps involved in the Meaningful Use process.

Sign up to receive new blog posts immediately to your email box by submitting your email address in the form to the right.

• HealthPort named one of the top vendors for Meaningful Use attestations

  April 01, 2013

  HealthPort was mention in Modern Healthcare's recent analysis identifying the top vendors for Meaningful Use Attestations.

  Click here to read the article.

  Full story

  Comments (0)

• Featured guest on MU Live, an internet talk radio show

  June 01, 2012

  On Tuesday, June 5th at 2 p.m. EST, I will be a guest speaker on MU Live, a weekly 30 minute internet talk radio show hosted by HITECH Answers that focuses on  Meaningful Use and Health IT. 
  
  Click here to participate and listen in as I discuss the role of patient portals in Stage 2 meaningful use.

  Full story

  Comments (1)

• How Stage 2 Affects Record Release

  March 28, 2012

  The Meaningful Use Stage 2 Notice of Proposed Rule Making is out, and it will bring sweeping changes to how hospitals and eligible professionals release records and other information to patients. 

  Click here to check out my article “How Stage 2 Affects Record Release” in the April 2012 Issue of Health Management Technology where I explain how the proposed Stage 2 criteria changes will drive organizations to implement a patient portal or personal health record application.

  Full story

  Comments (1)

• Meaningful Use Stage 2 – Patient Access – Data Requirements

  March 21, 2012

  As we mentioned in an earlier blog post, the proposed Stage 2 requirements replace the release of information (ROI) related item for patient “electronic copy of health information” with a new online access requirement.  In that post, we promised to list the data elements which must be available through a portal or PHR in order to satisfy Meaningful Use.

  The below lists are different for Eligible Professionals (EPs) vs. Hospitals

  EPs:
  

  • Patient name
  • Provider's name and office contact information
  • Problem list
  • Procedures
  • Laboratory test results
  • Medication list
  • Medication allergy list
  • Vital signs (height, weight, blood pressure, BMI, growth charts)
  • Smoking status
  • Demographic information (preferred language, gender, race, ethnicity, date of birth)
  • Care plan field, including goals and instructions, and
  • Any additional known care team members beyond the referring or transitioning provider and the receiving provider

  
  

  Hospitals:
  

  • Admit and discharge date and location
  • Reason for hospitalization
  • Providers of care during hospitalization
  • Problem list maintained by the hospital on the patientRelevant past diagnoses known by the hospital
  • Medication list maintained by the hospital on the patient (both current admission and historical)
  • Medication allergy list maintained by the hospital on the patient (both current admission and historical)
  • Vital signs at discharge
  • Laboratory test results (available at time of discharge)
  • Care transition summary and plan for next provider of care (for transitions other than home)
  • Discharge instructions for patient, and
  • Demographics maintained by hospital (gender, race, ethnicity, date of birth, preferred language, smoking status)

  
  

  NOTE:  Providers still hold full rights to withhold information if they judge (strictly a la HIPAA) that the information is better communicated another way or not at all.  CMS does not believe there is a legitimate case for withholding ALL information from an encounter with a patient – just parts.
  

  What effect will this have on HIM?
  HealthPort believes that meeting this MU requirement may eliminate some patient requests for medical records, particularly if lab results are the focus, but that some patient requests would continue to arrive in the HIM department for a more complete release. This will all depend on patient awareness of the online option, and on how much of the record the facility makes available on-line beyond these minimum requirements.
  

  If you want to look these up in the rule:
  

  1.  Click here to access the pdf version of the rule
  2.  The new proposed objective for “Access” starts on page 91 for EPs, page 144 for hospitals.
  3.  The list of required record data for online access starts on page 97 for EPs, page 145 for hospitals.
  4.  If you prefer the table form for reviewing the requirements, that starts on page 156.
  5.  And the actual rule verbiage (not the comments and table mentioned above) is on page 406 for EPs, page 414 for hospitals.

  In my next post, I’ll explore the encryption aspects of Stage 2.  Stay tuned...
  

  Full story

  Comments (2)

• Meaningful Use Stage 2 Would Replace ROI Requirements With Online Access

  February 27, 2012

  On February 23rd, CMS released the Meaningful Use Stage 2 Notice of Proposed Rule Making which will make sweeping changes to the release of information (ROI) requirements after January 1, 2014 for ALL Eligible Professionals, and after October 1, 2013 for ALL Hospitals. In addition, the changes will apply for facilities still at Stage 1 for 2014.
  
  

  What is CMS Proposing?

  Drop the requirements in the 2014 reporting period for:
  1.       Patient electronic copies of medical records within three business days
  2.       Electronic copies of discharge instructions at time of discharge
  3.       The “menu” requirement for “Timely Access” on the Eligible Provider list

  And replace all three of these with a core requirement of patient online access.
  
  Eligible Professional (EP) Objective: Provide patients the ability to view online, download and transmit their health information within 4 business days of the information being available to the EP.
  
  EP Measures: (Note: You must pass TWO measures for this objective)
  1.       More than 50 percent of all unique patients seen by the EP during the EHR reporting period are provided timely (within 4 business days after the information is available to the EP) online access to their health information subject to the EP's discretion to withhold certain information.
  AND
  2.       More than 10 percent of all unique patients seen by the EP during the EHR reporting period (or their authorized representatives) view, download or transmit to a third party their health information.

  Hospital Objective: Provide patients the ability to view online, download and transmit information about a hospital admission.
  
  Hospital Measure: (Note: You must pass TWO measures for this objective):
  1.       More than 50 percent of all patients who are discharged from the inpatient or emergency department (POS 21 or 23) of an eligible hospital or CAH have their information available online within 36 hours of discharge.
  AND
  2.       More than 10 percent of all patients who are discharged from the inpatient or emergency department (POS 21 or 23) of an eligible hospital or CAH view, download or transmit to a third party their information during the EHR reporting period.
  
  The following will probably receive comment: The “unique patient” item in the EP Measure. For example, if a patient sees the provider three times in the reporting period, and in two of the instances the data is available within 4 business days, but in the third instance the data wasn’t available for the patient until six business days had elapsed, do you count the patient or not? The “within 36 hours of discharge” item in the hospital measure.

  BOTTOM LINE - These changes will drive every facility to own or outsource a patient portal or PHR and to connect their EHR system to the portal so records are automatically available. Will this reduce patient HIM department requests for medical records?  Depends on two things:
  1.       How well the facility advertises the portal, and gets patients to use it (instead of requesting copies of records in the traditional ways).  The requirement that 10 percent of patients actually access their records means that providers must actively persuade patients to go to the portal.
  2.       How much information is actually available on the portal, and in what  format.  CMS did specify a minimum set of data that must be available – and it’s not the entire record (watch for a later blog post on this).  So patients will likely still request their records in traditional ways, depending on the patient’s reason for the request, and the health information they need.
  
  Read the rule for yourself and utilize the tips below to speed you on your way:
  1.       The pdf version of the rule (pre Federal Register) can be found by clicking here.
  2.       The new proposed objective for “Access” starts on page 91 for EPs or page 144 for hospitals.
  3.       The list of required record data for online access (if you want to get ahead of our next blog post) starts on page 97 for EPs or page 145 for hospitals.
  4.       If you prefer the table form for reviewing the requirements, that starts on page 156.
  5.       And the actual rule verbiage (not the comments and table mentioned above) is on page 406 for EPs or page 414 for hospitals.
  
  

  Full story

  Comments (3)

• Meaningful Use and Patient Access to Record: Understanding the Fine Print

  December 09, 2011

  This month I authored an article in Becker’s Hospital Review titled, “Meaningful Use and Patient Access to Record: Understanding the Fine Print.”  In the article, I explore the five stage-one MU criteria focused on patient access to information and how patients directly benefit from HITECH's meaningful use incentive program. 
  

   

  Click here to read the article in its entirety.

  Full story

  Comments (2)

• Meaningful Use Attestation Guides and the EHR Certification Number

  November 10, 2011

  Meaningful Use Attestation Guides - CMS recently published new guides for the Meaningful Use attestation process.  The two pdf documents (one for hospitals and one for eligible professionals) show the entire attestation process, screen by screen. This means you can get a preview of the data you need for Meaningful Use attestation prior to registering. The guides also explain the values needed and the rules for exclusions, where exclusions are allowed.

  Click here to find the guides. Then, scroll down to the section entitled, “Do you have questions about attestation?” and click the link titled, “Where can I find user guides and other resources?” The link jumps to the resources section, where the first two items are the Attestation User Guides.
  
  Direct links to the guides are below – but CMS changes these links from time to time.
  
  For Hospitals, click here.
  
  For Eligible Professionals, click here.
  
  EHR Certification Number - The guides also illustrate entering your facility’s EHR Certification Number. This is a unique 15 character ID that is generated by the ONC CHPL Site (Office of the National Coordinator – Certified HIT Product List) for your combination of certified EHR technologies. You will need to get this number prior to attestation. This number is different than the certification number on the seal provided to your vendor(s) by the certifying bodies.  

  To obtain an EHR Certification Number, click here to access the ONC CHPL web site.
  
  Search for and select each of the certified products you are using for Meaningful Use and add them to your “cart.” 
  
  Note that the website has two groups of certified technologies for searching – Ambulatory and Inpatient (see the buttons at the bottom of the screen). HealthPort’s eSmartLog* application is certified and listed for both inpatient and ambulatory (this is important, to allow every customer to generate an EHR Certification Number).
  
  When you have selected a set of technologies which covers ALL of the Meaningful Use requirements, the web site will allow you to generate an EHR Certification Number.  This 15 digit value is what you need for the attestation process.

  *This EHR Module is 2011/2012 compliant and has been certified by Drummond Group, an ONC-ATCB approved to certify any complete or modular EHR both ambulatory and inpatient, in accordance with the applicable certification criteria adopted by the Secretary of Health and Human Services. This certification does not represent an endorsement by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services or guarantee the receipt of incentive payments. HealthPort eSmartlog, 08/11/2011, Version 1.1, 08112011‐1318‐8 (inpatient), 08112011‐1317‐8 (ambulatory), 7zip.

  Full story

  Comments (0)

• Certification Versus Meaningful Use

  October 25, 2011

  Just because your EHR was CERTIFIED to do it doesn’t mean you HAVE to do it for Meaningful Use.
  
  

  CMS and ONC (the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT) were the authors of the Meaningful Use rule and the EHR Certification Rule, respectively. The clearly stated intention of the certification rule is to give providers and facilities a way to know that basic capabilities exist in their EHR system. Those capabilities must then be used and tracked to prove Meaningful Use, but CMS explicitly described some differences in the MU rule, usually in the name of “flexibility.”

  For instance, Certified EHR systems must provide a way for users to encrypt files containing PHI. On the other hand, however, the Meaningful Use rule clearly states that it will not mandate when or how the facility should use this encryption capability, if at all. The rule does note that HIPAA and HITECH already provide guidance on privacy and security. The long and short of this is that as facilities create electronic copies of medical records for patients, they are at liberty to decide when and how to encrypt, or even to decide not to encrypt at all. This means they can use the encryption tools within the Certified EHR, or other tools. At HealthPort, we feel strongly that electronic copies should all be encrypted, as the hard-drives of all HealthPort PCs are encrypted, so that maximum protection can be ensured no matter where that electronic copy may travel. And we work with our partners to create an encryption password process that works for the facility and for the patients.

  In another example, Certified EHR systems must be able to produce a CCD or CCR (“Continuity of Care Document” or “Continuity of Care Record”) - two national standards for electronic layouts of medical data – in xml format and a human readable version.  However, to meet Meaningful Use for patient electronic copies of medical records, only the human readable version must be provided to the patient. CMS understands that the most common use of the patient copy will be for humans to view and read it, not machines, and so at this point, CCD or CCR is not required for patient copies.
  
  Nearly every facility HealthPort has spoken to about this is planning to deliver just the human readable version.  Many have said they would not pass CCD or CCR versions to patients because they believe it will only lead to questions and it may also lead to debates about payment for the CCD/CCR portion of the copy.  CCD and CCR were designed for system-to-system exchange of medical record data, and the patient copy is not seen, yet, as part of that type of transfer.

  As your facility is working through the other MU requirements, it’s important to know the difference between what was certified and what is required for MU. Many MU requirements do mandate that the exact certified process or format be used in order to qualify, but some do not. Wherever possible, the rule makers wanted to allow room for facilities and vendors to innovate, and many of those breathing spaces show up as differences between the certification and the MU requirements.
  
  A terrific resource for learning about these breathing spaces, and CMS interpretation of the rule, is the CMS EHR Incentive Programs website – particularly the FAQ page. Click here and look for the Frequently Asked Questions link on the lower left side of the EHR Incentive Programs site.

  Full story

  Comments (0)

• HealthPort Certifies eSmartlog, its release of information logging, tracking and correspondence application, as an EHR Module for Meaningful Use

  September 02, 2011

  HealthPort now has a Certified EHR Module for Meaningful Use. If you want to know a little more about the certification process, read the next two paragraphs. If not, you can cut to the chase by scrolling down to “What does certification mean?” or even to “What’s next”.

  HealthPort completed its first round of testing for eSmartlog, our release of information software application, with The Drummond Group, one of the federally accredited certifying bodies for the EHR Incentive Program. The object of the test was to prove that the system can perform certain Meaningful Use functions according to national standards, and that the software contains the required security features. The Drummond testing proctor passed HealthPort’s system on all tested criteria, recommending certification.

  The rest of the process happened later. Federal law separates the testing function from the certification function. An organization, like The Drummond Group, might be approved by the government to perform just testing or just certification, separately.  In fact, however, each of the accredited companies perform both functions, but maintain strict administrative separation between them. The initial test was only half of the process, performed by one team within The Drummond Group.Actual certification was granted (by authority delegated from the Office of the National Coordinator of Health IT, part of the Department of Health and Human Services) soon after the initial test, when the Drummond Certification Committee met to review the recommendations of the test proctor.

  What does certification mean?

  Certification indicates that HealthPort is prepared to meet the security requirements for Meaningful Use, and to monitor, tally, and report the results for the ROI requirement that is HealthPort’s specialty (patient electronic copy in 3 business days).  Customers wanting to use HealthPort solutions for delivery of Meaningful Use record copies to patients, will breathe easier because certification has been achieved.

  What’s next?

  HealthPort does not anticipate any change in fee structures or service as a result of certification. Current service levels and partner agreements are unaltered by Meaningful Use or certification.

  HealthPort wants to help you meet Meaningful Use, but we can’t do it automatically just because we’re certified.   Meeting the 3 business day deadline for an electronic patient copy of medical records will take a coordinated effort between HealthPort and the HIM Department at your facility.  Reporting can be done in multiple ways, and we can’t make those decisions without you. We need to have a conversation, complete a Meaningful Use Questionnaire, and be on record with workflows and procedures for meeting Meaningful Use.

  You can think of certification as putting us into the uniform and on your MU bench. The next step is to put us in play by letting your local District Manager of Operations know of your Meaningful Use plans. 

  Full story

  Comments (5)

• Welcome to Our Meaningful Use Updates Blog!

  July 29, 2011

  Every parent would recognize the debate that takes place at the birth of a new blog.  What are you going to name the new arrival?  You consider different names and try to forecast how those names will influence the world’s first impressions of your child.  Will the name capture the child’s personality?  Will the name limit the child in any way?

  For our Meaningful Use blog we considered different names, as well.  There are so many possibilities:

  “3 Business Days” – A focus on the tight timeframe for releasing electronic copies of medical records to patients, and all the workflow and system changes that might be required to get there.  HealthPort is deeply engaged with this MU requirement, and has dug into the fine print and real world issues that emerge when facilities confront the day-to-day realities of meeting this deadline.

  “Use it Meaningfully” – Discussing ways to make the incentive program actually improve patient satisfaction, increase the HIM department’s effectiveness, better secure medical records, and maximizing any other positive outcome that might accrue from implementing EHR technology and pursuing Meaningful Use.

  “Is That a FAQ?” – CMS and other organizations continue to make changes to the rules of the MU game, and publishing them in “Frequently Asked Question” posts on the EHR Incentive Program website.  HealthPort keeps abreast of these, and can help alert our partners when changes apply to the ROI effort.

  “What is MU?” (Pronounced “moo”) – a Zen meditation on Meaningful Use’s place in the cosmos and how to achieve inner peace about regulations, incentives, and HITECH.
   
  

  “Don’t Forget to Feed IT” – A guide to tickling the fancy of the IT departments which will be ever more important with the implementation of EHRs and Meaningful Use.

  When the decision time comes, though, you realize you want people to see a business blog name and know why they should tune in.  This space is going to focus on news and updates about Meaningful Use, so we kept things simple and named it that way.

  We want this blog to be helpful, easy to read, informative, and valuable to our partners.  We hope to help partners with the nitty gritty of the rules and implementation, but also, where possible, to put a smile on your face.  Meaningful Use is going to be hard work, and cause tough choices and challenging changes.  We hope this blog can help with facts, discussion, and maybe a little positive energy to meet the road ahead.

  Full story

  Comments (2)

  Meaningful Use