On Friday, March 20th, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released its proposed rule for Meaningful Use Stage 3. CMS’ proposed rule continues “to encourage electronic submission of clinical quality measure (CQM) data for all providers where feasible in 2017.” In the end, the proposed rule requires hospitals, physicians, and other eligible professionals (EPs) to meet Stage 3 requirements by 2018. In addition, the proposed rule establishes requirements to convert the program to a single stage for meaningful use. http://www.healthit.gov.facas/sites/faca/files/muwg_stage3_draft_rec_07_aug_13_.v3.pdf
In brief, CMS is attempting to ease provider responsibility by using “a simplified reporting structure on a focused set of objectives and associated measures to replace all criteria under Stages 1 and 2.
The draft rule will also continue the CMS policy of linking meaningful use objectives to Certified Electronic Health Record Technology (CEHRT) definitions and the Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) established certification criteria. http://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Legislation/EHRIncentivePrograms/Downloads/CEHRT2014_FinalRule_QuickGuide.pdf) As in Stage 1 and Stage 2, EPs, eligible hospitals, and critical access hospitals (CAHs) all must use technology that meets the certification criteria in the ONC Health IT Certification Program in order to meet Stage 3 objectives.
CMS will accept comments on the Stage 3 proposed rule until May 29th http://www.healthit.gov/sites/default/files/hitpc_stage3_rfc_final.pdf
For more information and assistance visit Meaningful Use
