Whither Meaningful Use in 2014el

Implementation of health care technologies in the US has been persistently hampered by delays.  In 2012, HHS delayed compliance with ICD-10 code sets until October 2014.  In December, 2013, CMS extended the timelines for implementation of meaningful use stage 2 through 2016 and the start of meaningful use stage 3 to 2017.  While responsive to providers' concerns about meeting many demands at once, these delays are costly.  They respond to the needs of backward and less efficient providers, to put the point bluntly.  And they diminish the advantages to be gained from use of interoperable electronic health records for patients and their health care, for the health care system, and for public health.  The extended timeline will allow providers to avoid payment adjustments by attesting stage 1 compliance by July 1, 2014, and demonstrating stage 2 compliance for 90 days in each subsequent year up through 2016.  Justifications for the extension include the need for time to develop certified electronic health record products and the desire to use data from the stage 2 experience in the development of stage 3l.

Here's what "MU" Stage 2 actually requires of physicians:

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• You must begin your 90 days of Stage 1 of meaningful use no later than July 1, 2014 and submit attestation by October 1, 2014 in order to avoid the 2015 payment adjustment.

• You will demonstrate a second year of Stage 1 of meaningful use in 2014 for a three-month reporting period fixed to the quarter for Medicare or any 90 days for Medicaid.

• You will demonstrate Stage 2 of meaningful use for two years (2015 and 2016).

• You will begin Stage 3 of meaningful use in 2017.

• You will still demonstrate Stage 2 of meaningful use in 2014 for a three-month reporting period fixed to the quarter for Medicare or any 90 days for Medicaid.

• You will demonstrate Stage 2 of meaningful use for three years (2014, 2015 and 2016).

• You will begin Stage 3 of meaningful use in 2017.