Meaningful Use Stage 1 establishes the basic concepts and requirements for using electronic health records to qualify for incentive payments, including: establishing core measures of meaningful use; requiring the use of certified EHR systems; and outlining the stages of meaningful use that focus on data capture, clinical processes, and improved outcomes. It also describes the eligible providers, certified EHR criteria, Medicare and Medicaid program differences, and recommendations to familiarize oneself with the requirements to receive incentive payments.

1. Meaningful Use Stage 1
Basic Concepts and Requirements
Dr. Jose I. Delgado, Taino Consultants Inc.

2. What is Meaningful Use
• Established by the Health Information
Technology for Economic and Clinical
Health (HITECH) Act of 2009
• Defines the use of electronic health
records (EHR)
• Requirement before an organization
may request payments under the EHR
incentive program

3. Requirements
• Eligible Professional
– Providers eligible for incentives
• Certified EHR
• Meaningful Use
– Three Stages
• Specific Program
– Medicare
– Medicaid

4. Eligible Providers
Medicare Medicaid
• Doctor of medicine • Physicians
• Doctor of osteopathy • Dentists
• Doctor of dental surgery • Certified nurse midwives
• Doctor of dental medicine • Nurse practitioners
• Doctor of podiatric medicine • Physicians assistants (in rural
• Doctor of optometry health clinic or FQHC led by a
• Chiropractor physician assistant)

5. Certified Electronic Health Record
• EHR that is certified specifically for the
EHR Incentive Programs
• Must have met CMS and the Office of
the National Coordinator for Health
Information Technology (ONC)
established standards
• Must be on the Certified Health IT
Product List (CHPL)
– http://healthit.hhs.gov/chpl

6. Meaningful Use Stages
Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3
2011-2012 2014 2016
Data Capture and Advance Clinical Improved Outcomes
Sharing Processes
Using the information to track Disease management, clinical Focusing on decision support
key clinical conditions decision support for national high priority
conditions
Communicating captured Quality measurement Achieving improvements in
information for care quality, safety and efficiency
coordination purposes
Reporting of clinical quality Support for patient access to Access to comprehensive
measures and public health their health information patient data
information
Capturing health information Bi-directional communication Patient access to self-
in a coded format with public health agencies management tools
*Not all Inclusive.

7. Medicare vs Medicaid
Medicare Medicaid
Starts in calendar year 2011 Starts in calendar year 2011
Up to $44,000 over five years Up to $63,750 over six years
Maximum of $18,000 on the first based on up to 85% of state-
year if EP bills Medicare $24,000 or calculated global average costs for
more. EHR
For maximum reimbursement 1st 1st yr cost no later than 2016
year cost no later than 2012
No payments made after 2015 No payments made after 2021 or
more than 5 years
Penalties start in 2015 (1%) and No Medicaid penalty for failure to
increases by 1% every year until demonstrate Meaningful Use
2019 with a max of 5%.

8. Other Issues to Consider
• Core Measure number 12
– Responsibilities for both the HIPAA
Privacy Rule and other applicable laws
• Read about HIPAA Privacy Rule, HITECH,
Omnibus Rule
• Core Measure number 15
– Security Risk Analysis
• perform a security review and correct any
potential vulnerabilities

9. Reminders
• Meaningful use requirements go
beyond the implementation of a
certified EHR.
• Meaningful use is not for all healthcare
professionals.
• EPs may only choose Medicare or
Medicaid incentives.

10. Recommendations
• Familiarize yourself with the
requirements
• Select which program is more
convenient to you
• Look for professional assistance
• Change operational practices to meet
the requirements

11. Summary
• Meaningful Use defines the use on
Electronic Health Records
• Meaningful use must be met in order to
receive financial incentives
• Failure to meet Meaningful use
requirements may result in Medicare
penalties by 2015