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The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) is seeking comments on the preliminary definition of “Meaningful Use,” as presented to the HIT Policy Committee on June 16, 2009.  Comments on the draft description of Meaningful Use are due by    5:00 pm EST June 26, 2009.  Below are links to the HIT Policy Committee's recomendations:

• Meaningful Use Preamble
• Meaningful Use Matrix

For directions on how to submit comments, visit the HIT Policy Committee's website.

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The HIT Policy Committee is suppose to unveil its recommendations on the definition of "Meaningful Use" of electronic health records (EHRs) on June 16th, reports Health Data Management.  Any approved definition of "Meaningful Use" would then be forwarded to the Office of National Coordinator for further consideration.  

What will constitute "Meaningful Use" of an EHR has been the subject of much debate and speculation lately because it is a necessary condition that hospitals and physicians must meet in order to qualify for Medicare and Medicaid incentive payments under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).  ARRA initially describes “Meaningful Use” to include:

• The use of a certified EHR with ePrescribing capability;
• The ability to report on clinical quality measures; and  
• The use of EHR technology that allows electronic exchange of patient health information.

Further information with regard to required standards, reporting and connectivity levels are to be determined by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and the Final Rule on the initial definition of "Meaningful Use" is due out by the end of 2009, so stay tuned....


 

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