ARRA News

CMS Posts Sneak Preview of Meaningful Use Attestation

Eligible Professionals (EPs), Eligible Hospitals (EHs) and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) who make a meaningful use of a certified electronic health record(EHR) are eligible for financial incentives under the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act of 2009 (HITECH Act). EPs, EHs and CAHs will be able to attest to meeting the “meaningful use” criteria through a special on-line portal beginning April 18, 2011.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) has posted a sneak preview of the attestation system with screenshots of the meaningful use screens that providers will complete in order to attest to meaningful use. More information about how to register and attest is available on the CMS official website for the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs.

[ via HITECH Law blog ]

Medicare Attestation Period for Meaningful Use Begins April 18

CMS has announced that health care providers can attest to meeting criteria for the Medicare portion of the meaningful use program beginning April 18. The agency is offering health care providers a sample of selected screenshots of what the reporting site entails. Meanwhile, CMS has distributed about $37 million thus far in payments under the meaningful use program.

Read more here.

Medical Device Integration: Nursing and IT Collaborate for Meaningful Use

On April 19, the Mississipppi Hospital Association will host a webinar, Medical Device Integration: Nursing and IT Collaborate for Meaningful Use, from 1:30 p.m. until 3 p.m. Medical Device Integration is emerging as a key strategic IT initiative and enabler of core hospital HITECH, business and clinician goals.

A variety of technical, cultural and cost issues have prevented more widespread adoption of this technology. Many organizations lack a clear understanding of the impacts of workarounds prevalent today in medical device capture and documentation processes.

Register online here. For more information, contact Judith Forshee at (800) 289-8884, (601) 368-3216 or jforshee@mhanet.org.

HHS issues updated health IT strategic plan for comment

The Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology has released for public comment an updated strategic plan for federal health IT. ONC is tasked by law with coordinating efforts to expand health IT adoption and use across dozens of government agencies.

The updated strategic plan includes five goals focused on health information exchange, using IT to support the national quality strategy, protecting the privacy and security of electronic health information, supporting patient-centered care, and using electronic health systems to improve knowledge about health and health care. The American Hospital Association will carefully review the plan, which is open for comment through April 22.

CMS Adds, Updates FAQs on Meaningful Use Incentive Program

CMS has added 11 new questions and updated existing ones on its list of more than 100 frequently asked questions about the meaningful use incentive program. The questions address meaningful use requirements, eligibility and other topics.

Learn more here.