Meaningful Use....What the AMA has to say about Meaningful Use

October 1, 2015 is fast approaching. That is the deadline for providers to adopt ICD-10.  In addition to that requirement Meaningful Use continues to be a bane on providers.  Physicians perceive meaningful use as less than meaningful when resources could be better used to improve EHR usability rather than  some bureaucratic bloat/.

Meaningful Use (MU) isn't working, and now the government wants to move forward with Stage 3 implementation. But if it's not fixed, that could lead to less time with patients, less innovation and costly penalties if physicians are unable to comply. Currently physician participation in MU Stage 2 sits at less than 10 percent, compared to the 80 percent adoption of EHRs.

Recently Rep. Renee Ellmers, R-N.C., introduced H.R. 3309, the "Flex IT 2 Act." This legislation would provide much needed flexibility in the MU program and enhance electronic health records (EHRs) to improve patient care and access to health information. The bill also addresses key interoperability challenges by ensuring certified EHR systems are capable of sending, receiving and seamlessly incorporating patient data.

At a recent AMA town hall meeting on EHRs and MU, the response from physicians was overwhelming: MU is not working, and physicians cannot move to a learning health system unless they have the tools to do so. They need state-of-the-art technology that can interoperate with other systems and providers.

In Washington, D.C., August means one thing—congressional recess. 

Some of the reflections spoken about at the AMA meeting:

     80% of physicians are using EHR

     Rather than improving efficient patient care, the current state of EHR design interferes with the

     goal of improving patient relationships. 

     The current administration continues to push forward with more meaningful use requirements instead

     of correcting what does not contribute to patient care.

     The proposals to change from procedural based reimbursement to value will require EHR modification

     to integrate with the proposed changes of health reform.

     The AMA's goals are to have physicians play a key role in improving patient care, improve                            interoperability, and eliminate the digital silos that have replaced paper silos.

     

     Please take advantage of this time when your members of Congress are back at home: Email or call (888) 434-6200 to be connected with their district offices, and urge them to cosponsor H.R. 3309 today!

To learn more about MU and to share your story, please visit: breaktheredtape.org

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