The rules for Stage 1 meaningful use and EMR certification are final. The primary-care focus is indisputable; it is widely acknowledged that applicability to specialists is minimal at best. All that specialists and their medical societies can do now is make their recommendations known and advise their members accordingly—as AAOS recently did, for example—and hope that the government will define meaningful use for specialists in a meaningful way in the future.
However, based on the HIT Policy Committee’s recent action on August 24, it does not appear that the government is hearing their voice—as I discuss in a more detailed article on HIStalk. The Committee appointed 24 members of a new Quality Measures Workgroup, tasked with prioritizing quality measures for Stage 2 meaningful use and analyzing gaps in the current criteria. All 18 physicians on the committee are primary-care providers—internists, family practice, and pediatricians—only two of whom have a subspecialty, neither of which is surgical.
Many specialists have decided to pass on the government’s EMR incentives program, and they will move forward by making EMR decisions that they feel are in the best interest of their practices and their patients.
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There was research conducted that showed about 80% do not rely on the fact that Medicare / Medicaid programs would pay them incentives for meaningful use. Based on such study, it does make sense for specialists to continue making their perspective choices of the right EMR for their operational efficiency, rather than adhering to each stage of meaningful use, as far as the purpose of having EMR in place is met. We could wait to see what’s next that they come up with.