HHS Announces Final EHR Rules
July 23, 2010
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has unveiled final rules to foster the development and adoption of electronic health records (EHR).
“For years, health policy leaders on both sides of the aisle have urged adoption of electronic health records throughout our health care system to improve quality of care and ultimately lower costs,” HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said in a statement.
Promulgated under legislation passed last year, the rules allow eligible health care professionals and hospitals to qualify for Medicare and Medicaid incentive payments when they adopt certified EHR technology and use it to achieve specified objectives.
A total of $27 billion in incentive grants will be available over the next five years to health care providers that adopt EHR technology.
Eligible professionals may receive as much as $44,000 under Medicare and $63,750 under Medicaid, and hospitals could receive millions of dollars for implementation and meaningful use of certified EHRs under both Medicare and Medicaid.
“This is a turning point for electronic health records in America, and for improved quality and effectiveness in health care,” said David Blumenthal, M.D., National Coordinator for Health Information Technology. “(W)e have sought and received extensive input from the health care community, and we have drawn on their experience and wisdom to produce objectives that are both ambitious and achievable.”
One of the rules defines the “meaningful use” objectives that providers must meet to qualify for the bonus payments, while another details the technical capabilities required for certified EHR technology. The qualification criteria had been a major concern of health care providers.
After receiving more than 2,000 comments expressing concerns over the proposed rules, HHS reduced the number of requirements that providers had to satisfy to be eligible for grants, while retaining the intent and structure of the incentive programs.
The requirements for meaningful use incentive payments will be phased in over a number of years, with increasing standards for performance on IT and quality objectives taking effect in the future.
To facilitate development of EHRs, HHS will be establishing a nationwide network of Regional Extension Centers to assist providers in adopting and using certified EHR technology.