Early this morning, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued the Meaningful Use Final Rule for electronic health records (EHRs).
The final rule defines the criteria that healthcare providers must meet to reach Meaningful Use and outlines payment methodologies for the Medicare and Medicaid incentive programs. The release of the final rule marks a milestone in how health information technology (HIT) will impact healthcare in Arizona and across the U.S.
In the coming weeks, Arizona Health-e Connection will offer in-depth tools and resources, including a series of statewide regional Meaningful Use meetings, to provide detailed information on the final rule. Meetings will be held in Flagstaff, Phoenix, Tucson and Yuma and are specifically geared toward healthcare providers and other healthcare professionals that will be impacted by Meaningful Use, although anyone is welcome and encouraged to attend. Please look for details soon!
Some interesting changes to note in the final rule:
- More consistent messages between CMS programs
- Easier calculations of measures
- Greater flexibility in achieving objectives
Arizona Regional Extension Center & Meaningful Use
What is it?
The Arizona Regional Extension Center, led by Arizona Health-e Connection (AzHeC), is part of a $634 million ARRA/HITECH initiative to establish HIT Regional Extension Centers nationwide to assist primary care providers in adopting and becoming Meaningful Users of EHR systems. Key collaborative partners include Arizona State University's Department of Biomedical Informatics, Health Services Advisory Group and the Purchasing & Assistance Collaborative for Electronic Health Records. Arizona's Regional Extension Center recognizes there are many challenges Arizona providers face in adopting EHRs.
What Can it do for Arizona Healthcare Providers?
First and foremost, the Regional Extension Center will serve as a neutral source for credible EHR and HIT information. Second, it will strive to fully understand, identify and provide solutions to challenges in adopting EHR systems. Finally, the Regional Extension Center will provide critical services for adopting EHRs and meeting Meaningful Use. Please see the Regional Extension Center webpage for full details of services offered.
When Will Services be Available?
The Regional Extension Center will begin operations in early fall 2010. In its planning process, AzHeC has been working closely with a number or organizations to ensure its services are aligned with other HIT efforts in the state and that it leverages existing resources and expertise in Arizona. AzHeC has been working closely with the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS). Where AHCCCS will be focused on providing technical assistance to providers around payment, AzHeC will focus on technical assistance for EHR adoption. To learn more about AHCCCS and Meaningful Use, please visit its HIT webpage.
In additional to the partners already mentioned, AzHeC is also collaborating with Arizona Medical Association, Arizona Osteopathic Medical Association, the Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association and the University of Arizona on outreach efforts.
What's Next?
With the Meaningful Use Final Rule announcement, we are excited for the opportunity to work alongside Arizona healthcare providers and professionals to provide resources and assistance to achieve Meaningful Use of electronic health records.
Learn More
With questions or comments, please email ehr@azhec.org or call 602.288.5130.
Arizona Health-e Connection acknowledges the Office of the National Coordinator, Department of Health and Human Services for its support of this program, which is funded under award number 90RCOO35/01.
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