CHIME calls for 1 year delay extension to meaningful use stage 2 in a response letter sent to six senators about HIT adoption defending meaningful use.
In a response to a call last month from six GOP senators regarding health IT adoption, the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives today defends the meaningful use program and recommends a one year extension to meaningful use stage 2 before progressing to stage 3.
In a letter addressed to six senators, CHIME CEO Russell P. Branzell and CHIME Board Chair George T. Hickman wrote,
“A year extension of Stage 2 will give providers the opportunity to optimize their EHR technology and achieve the benefits of Stage 1 and Stage 2; it will give vendors the time needed to prepare, develop and deliver needed technology to correspond with Stage 3; and it will give policymakers time to assess and evaluate programmatic trends needed to craft thoughtful Stage 3 rules.”
In addition to the meaningful use extension, CHIME defended the progress of meaningful use to date stating that “US hospitals and physicians rely on the expectation of incentive monies in executing their business plans for EHRs and interoperability solutions.”
Also in the letter, the CHIME recommends Congress to:
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Continue its support of the S&I Framework and enhance ONC’s standards-setting resources.
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Consider periodic requests for information regarding needed areas of health IT standards, or encourage ONC to engage in such formalized feedback mechanisms.
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Request an update from ONC on what technologies, architectures and strategies exist to mitigate patient matching errors
- Ensure CMS audits are efficient and effective without overburdening providers.
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Congressional oversights closely monitor how the shifting market for certified EHRs impact providers who depend on developers to meet Meaningful Use and other aspects of HITECH.
Click here to read CHIME’S letter to learn more.
