Meaningful Use Information
On July 28, 2010, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released their final rule for the Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Program as a complement to the final rule on standards and certification released by the Office of National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC). (The final rule can be accessed at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-17207.pdf.)
As part of the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act of 2009, or the "HITECH Act," these final rules provide authority to establish programs to improve health care quality, safety, and efficiency of patient care through the promotion and meaningful use of health information technology (HIT), including qualified electronic health records (EHRs) and private and secure electronic health information exchange.
Through the CMS EHR incentive program eligible providers and hospitals can receive incentive payments once they have shown that they are able to implement certified EHR technology and/or have demonstrated "meaningful use." Included in the strategies for demonstrating "meaningful use" of the EHR systems are three objectives related to public health: submission of immunization registry data, submission of syndromic surveillance data and submission of reportable laboratory reports.
Public Health Objectives
The Indiana State Department of Health will work with eligible providers and hospitals in achieving Meaningful Use for the following public health requirements.
| Stage 1 Requirements | Eligible Providers | Hospitals |
|---|---|---|
| Provide electronic submission of immunization data to immunization registry. Immunization Messaging Guide |
Test the EHR system's capacity to submit electronic data to immunization registries. | Test the EHR system's capacity to submit electronic data to immunization registries. |
| Provide electronic submission of reportable lab results (as required by state or local law) to public health agencies. Electronic Lab Results Messaging Guide |
N/A | Test the EHR system's capacity to electronically submit reportable lab results to public health agencies (unless no agency to which a hospital submits such information can receive the information electronically). |
| Provide electronic syndromic surveillance data to public health agencies. PHIN Messaging Guide for Syndromic Surveillance |
Test the EHR system's capacity to provide electronic syndromic surveillance data to public health agencies unless none have the capacity to receive the information electronically. | Test the EHR system's capacity to provide electronic syndromic surveillance data to public health agencies (unless none have the capacity to receive the information electronically). |
More Information
For more information on achieving Public Health Meaningful Use you can contact:
John Wolfla
(317) 233-7512
Office of Technology and Compliance
Meaningful Use Coordinator
e-mail
Visit U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (http://www.cms.gov/EHRIncentivePrograms/) for more information on Meaningful Use and the Medicaid and Medicare incentives.
