This document summarizes the requirements for achieving meaningful use of electronic health records (EHRs) in order to qualify for incentive payments under the HITECH Act. It outlines the core and menu set objectives that must be met in each reporting period, including recording patient demographics, maintaining problem lists and medication lists, incorporating lab results into the EHR, exchanging health information electronically between providers, and reporting clinical quality measures to CMS or states. It also describes the services that regional extension centers like the North Carolina AHEC can provide to help practices select, implement, and optimize the use of certified EHR systems to meet meaningful use standards.