It comes as no surprise that the Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced a delay to the Meaningful Use (MU) Stage 2 requirements.
At Stage 1 created loads of confusion, the delay of Stage 2 seemed…expected.
Additionally, the HHS is clarifying that those who got their act together in 2011, wouldn’t be under a different timeline than those who still have not attested.
This isn’t really any different, though before this announcement, as the rules were written, those who attested for Stage 1 in 2011, would have to meet Stage 2 in 2013.
Now everyone has until 2014 to meet Stage 2 requirements.
The American Medical Association (AMA) has apparently urges the HHS to make the proposed requirements less rigorous and burdensome.
Stage 1 requirements are not all the rigorous. Especially if your EHR is worthwhile.
Many EHRs approach MU in such a way that makes use of the EHR in a “meaningful way” cumbersome.
Additionally, reporting from many EHRs for MU stage 1 is weak.
When an EHR becomes Meaningful Use certified, part of that certification should require EASY pulling of data for attestation.
This is not the case for most EHRs.
