Today, HHS announced that they are “officially” delaying the requirement for Eligible Hospitals and Eligible Providers to meet Meaningful Use Stage 2 objectives until 2014. Under the original plan, those EHs and EPs that met Stage 1 objectives in 2011 would be required to meet Stage 2 requirements in 2013. Now they have another year.
This is not surprising. In June, an ONC workgroup recommended that HHS delay by one year, as the current system almost discouraged participants from filing for Stage 1 in 2011. If they did not participate in the program until 2012, they could wait to meet the Stage 2 standards until 2014 and still be eligible for the same incentive payment. Now, those who are able to demonstrate they meet the Stage 1 requirements during 2011 can do so and get paid sooner, but still have a reasonable amount of time to prepare for Stage 2.
That certainly seems to be necessary, since the final rule on Stage 2 is not anticipated from CMS until mid-2012.
That being said, even though the final rule will not be identical to the recommendations released from the Policy Committee this summer, it is unlikely to vary significantly – and hospitals and EPs should be preparing to implement their Patient Portal today.
Kyra Hagan
MEDSEEK Director, Product Marketing
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