On Thursday, July 16, 2009, the HIT Policy Committee presented its revised recommendation on the “meaningful use” definition. At the end of this meeting, the HIT Policy Committee forwarded its recommendation on the “meaningful use” definition to the Office of National Coordinator per the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (“HITECH Act”). The revised meaningful use matrix, 2011 Draft Quality Measures and other materials presented or discussed during the MU meeting on July 16, 2009 are available on the HIT Policy Committee webpage.
Health Information Technology
CMS Website on ARRA’s Health Information Technology Includes Fact Sheet with FAQs
On June 16, 2009, on the same date the ONC HIT Policy Committee released the first draft of “meaningful use” of electronic health records (EHRs), the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) launched the CMS Health Information Technology Website to address health information technology (Health IT or HIT) under the ARRA’s Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH Act). The CMS HIT website focuses on the following three areas of ARRA Health IT:
- Health IT incentives and support for adoption
- Establishment of Health IT standards and infrastructure
- Privacy and security pertaining to Health IT
These are the three main areas pertaining to Health IT in which CMS will be involved under the HITECH Act.
Comment period on first draft of “meaningful use” closes Friday, June 26, 2009
As I previously reported in my June 17, 2009 post, the Meaningful Use Workgroup of the Office of National Coordinator’s HIT Policy Committee presented its initial draft of “meaningful use” at the Committee’s June 16, 2009 HIT Policy Committee meeting. The complete Meaningful Use Matrix setting out the objectives and measures for 2011, 2013 and 2015, can be reviewed on the HIT Policy Committee webpage. To submit comments on the draft, go to the HIT Policy Committee homepage and click on the Meaningful Use Comment Instructions in the box in the top right-hand corner of the page. Public comments are due by June 26, 2009.
ONCHIT Policy Committee Releases Draft Definition of Meaningful Use to Qualify for HITECH Act’s Medicare Incentives
Article Summary: The Meaningful Use Workgroup of the Office of National Coordinator’s HIT Policy Committee presented its initial draft of “meaningful use” at the Committee’s June 16, 2009 HIT Policy Committee meeting. As the National Coordinator and Chair of the HIT Policy Committee, David Blumenthal, M.D., M.P.P., reminded the meeting’s participants: “This is an initial draft, which has a long way to go.” Health reform clearly is a cornerstone of the Meaningful Use criteria. The Committee established five key Meaningful Use goals with criteria that will be stengthened every two years based on that year’s specific objective.
The HHS Implementation Plan for the HITECH Act
The HHS HITECH Act Technology Implementation Plan. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) has a broad role in the implementation of multiple health and welfare plans addressed by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). In order to manage and coordinate its many obligations under ARRA, HHS established the Office of Recovery Act Coordination. This office is responsible for ensuring that ARRA programs are designed to best meet ARRA objectives and reporting due dates, to establish and track performance outcomes, mitigate the risks of fraud and abuse, and to keep the public informed through the Web and other means of communication. The Office of Recovery Act Coordination released a 291-page implementation plan to address each aspect of HHS responsibilities under the ARRA, including a distinct Act within ARRA focused on health information technology, privacy and security. This Act is titled, “Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act” (HITECH Act).
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