After sending letters to Secretary of Health and Human Services Sylvia Burwell and Office of Management and Budget Director Shaun Donovan last week, the American Medical Association (AMA) and the Massachusetts Medical Society (MMS) will hold a virtual town hall meeting to give physicians and others a chance to discuss concerns with poorly designed EHRs and the impact these systems have on patient care.
The U.S. government has spent $25 billion under the Meaningful Use program to promote a digital health infrastructure based on the power of EHRs to enhance patient care, improve productivity, and reduce costs. And while more than 80 percent of physicians have adopted this technology, many physicians strongly believe the current course of Meaningful Use regulations threatens to turn the promise of EHRs into a pipe-dream. The AMA firmly believes that locking in Stage 3 rules for the Meaningful Use program would be a detrimental step that undermines the implementation of Medicare payment reforms.
The AMA believes that by pausing Meaningful Use Stage 3, this will provide the opportunity to evaluate the environment and work with the administration to implement the needed changes to the Meaningful Use program that are currently under consideration. The pause is not expected to delay progress with EHRs, rather move the MU program forward to effectively drive innovation and adoption.
During the live event, the AMA will also discuss its ongoing initiatives to reframe federal regulations and encourage better designed EHRs that emphasize high-quality patient care as the primary focus.Physicians and others who are not able to participate in this event can still make their voice heard on this critical issue. Visit BreaktheRedTape.org to share thoughts and experiences about EHR problems and solutions.
Below is the live event details for physicians and others to attend:
WHEN: Sept. 29, from 6:30–8:30 p.m. (ET). This event will also be streamed online starting at 7 p.m. (ET)
WHERE: Massachusetts Medical Society, 860 Winter Street, Waltham, MA
WHO: Henry Dorkin, M.D., vice-president, Massachusetts Medical Society
Kenneth D. Mandl, M.D., M.P.H., Boston’s Children’s Hospital and SMART Pioneer
Steven J. Stack, M.D., president, American Medical Association
Jesse M. Ehrenfeld, M.D., board member, American Medical Association
REGISTER: To attend in person, or view an online simulcast, please visit our registration site
