AHA: Stretch Meaningful Use Timeline

HDM Breaking News,

The federal government should extend the transition to a fully functional electronic health records system beyond 2015, according to the American Hospital Association.

The AHA has sent a comment letter on the initial proposal of a workgroup of the HIT Policy Committee to define meaningful use of electronic health records to David Blumenthal, national coordinator for health information technology.

“Our members believe that the functional abilities of the EHR that would result from implementation of the draft definition are correct, but that the proposed sequence for adoption is overly aggressive and unrealistic for most,” according to the AHA. “Increasing the requirements for being considered a meaningful user every two years should provide enough time for adoption, but only if the initial requirements are set at an achievable level. The AHA encourages the committee, ONC and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to develop a ‘meaningful use’ adoption timeline that begins with fewer functional requirements and extends the transition to a fully functional EHR beyond 2015.”

Computerized physician order entry, for instance, should not be required until after 2015 or beyond, the AHA contended in the comment letter. “Most hospitals are not prepared to make such significant advancements under the proposed implementation timeline, so rushing to adopt could compromise patient safety and the success of this effort,” the letter states. “Our members, including those with significant previous HIT investments and CPOE, consider a 2011 CPOE requirement to be unrealistic.” More Here EMR Stimulus Package