Government
MGMA urges revisions to "meaningful use" guidelines
■ If accepted by the federal government, the suggested health IT requirements could negatively impact practices and impede EMR adoption, the association says.
Washington -- Recommendations before the Obama administration for what constitutes "meaningful use" of electronic medical records could create an undue burden on physician practices if they are not revised by the time federal regulations come out, according to the Medical Group Management Assn.
MGMA sent a Nov. 12 letter to David Blumenthal, MD, national coordinator for health information technology, addressing several concerns it has with the meaningful use guidelines. Dr. Blumenthal and the Health IT Policy Committee recommended objectives for physicians with EMRs to meet by 2011, 2013 and 2015.
The Dept. of Health and Human Services plans to take the guidelines into account when issuing a proposed rule by the end of the year. The final definition ultimately will decide which physicians and hospitals are eligible for billions in federal health IT incentives made available through the most recent economic stimulus package.
While supportive of physician practice adoption of EMRs, MGMA is concerned that committee recommendations may prove too onerous, especially in the first years of implementation. "We believe that an inappropriate definition of meaningful use and inefficient administration of the program will lead to failed implementation ... and result in the needless squandering of resources and significant disruption to the nation's health care system," the association stated.
In its letter to Dr. Blumenthal, MGMA recommended:
- Instituting a pilot test before the start of the EMR incentive program and before each new phase of implementation.
- Establishing a system to ensure timely feedback to physicians once meaningful use data are submitted.
- Including only the criteria that have widespread industry use.
- Permitting flexibility by avoiding a "pass-fail" approach.
- Developing a simple process for physicians to attest that they have achieved meaningful use.
The government runs the risk of not fulfilling the stimulus legislation's directive if physicians encounter significant hurdles related to the program, MGMA concluded.
