New -Standards for “Meaningful Use” of Electronic Health Records Issued by HHR
August 5th, 2010
The federal government has issued its new rules on “meaningful use” of computerized medical records, with guidelines designed to move healthcare providers toward greater participation in electronic records management.
Physicians’ offices and hospitals will be able to apply for federal money to assist in the purchase of electronic medical records systems next year. Providers who haven’t complied with standards by 2015 may see their Medicare payments cut.
The new rules from HHS relax some of the initial draft’s standards for qualification for federal incentives, which had been criticized as containing onerous standards for electronic records use and too short a time to reach them.
Purported benefits of increased use of electronic records include lowering costs, avoiding dangerous drug interactions and duplication of tests, and easing coordination of patient care among providers.
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