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Meaningful Use

The Role of the HIE in Meaningful Use

Health Information Exchange (HIE) provides the capability to electronically move clinical information among disparate healthcare information systems (utilized by different providers) while maintaining the meaning of the information being exchanged. Certify’s HIE interoperability platform provides this capability and enables hospitals to meet essential meaningful use connection criteria.  And, because Certify’s solution deploys rapidly and efficiently, we help you meet meaningful use interoperability requirements quickly and effectively, without the project delays, excessive costs, unyielding oversight, and physician resistance typical of other solutions.

Economic Stimulus Details

In 2009, President Obama signed into law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), also known as the economic stimulus package. The package included the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH Act), which allocates over $19B to encourage the healthcare industry to adopt health information technology (HIT), by promoting the meaningful use of electronic health records via incentives.  These funds — aimed at improving the quality, efficiency and safety of the nation’s health — are available in the form of bonus payments to qualifying physicians and hospitals.  

ARRA Incentives for Eligible Professionals and Eligible Hospitals

Eligible Professionals (EPs) are qualified to receive incentives from Medicare or Medicaid for meaningful use of a certified EHR. EPs include:

• Doctors of medicine or osteopathy
• Doctors of dental surgery or medicine
• Doctors of podiatric medicine
• Doctors of optometry
• Chiropractors

EPs can begin receiving incentive payments for meeting meaningful use milestones beginning in January 2011. The ARRA incentive is front-loaded, and payments are reduced each year, ending entirely in 2016.  In addition, EPs who fail to meet meaningful use prior to the October 2015 deadline will face Medicare payment reductions.

These incentive payments range from up to $44,000 over five years under Medicare or $63,750 over six years under Medicaid. Physicians can apply for either/or – not both. Hospital-based physicians and those in practices owned by hospitals are not eligible.  In most cases, EPs will need to achieve meaningful use via a hospital-provided HIE.

Eligible Hospitals documenting meaningful use of an EHR can receive up to four years of financial incentive payments under Medicare beginning in 2011, and up to six years of incentive payments under Medicaid beginning in October 2010. Hospital incentives can range from $2-15 million. And, similar to EPs, Hospitals that fail to meet meaningful use by 2015 will face Medicare reductions.  To estimate incentives for your hospital, use this calculator.  Beyond financial incentives, achieving meaningful use can offer a number of additional benefits, such as:

• Strengthened quality and safety of patient care
• Reduced operational costs
• Enhanced community image
• Advantage in attracting tech-savvy employees and physicians
• Ease the transition to regional HIEs

Health Care Reform

Across the health care continuum, new provider reimbursement models – such as Accountable Care Organizations – will place an increased value on accountability and reporting, and more than likely reimbursements will be linked to measurable quality and outcomes. This means your practice must incorporate HIT that can standardize and securely exchange patient information. As a result, you’ll be able to demonstrate better outcomes and improved efficiency.

Defining Meaningful Use

Beginning in 2011, an Eligible Professional and an Eligible Hospital will be considered a meaningful EHR user if they meet the following three requirements:

• Use of a certified EHR in a meaningful manner
• Utilize certified EHR technology that is connected in a manner that provides for the electronic exchange of health information to improve the quality of healthcare
• Use of a certified EHR to report on clinical quality and other measures as specified by the Secretary

EHR Requirements

Eligible Professionals and Eligible Hospitals must have a complete EHR or a combination of EHR modules that meets the requirements of a “qualified EHR” and has been tested and certified in accordance with the certification criteria established by ONC.