CMS Issues Draft Stage 3 Rules for EHR Incentive Program March 27, 2015 EHR stage 3, EHR, meaningful use 0 The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), drafted regulations on March 20, 2015 for the third stage for Meaningful Use (MU), the EHR incentive program that provides financial incentives for the "meaningful use" of certified EHR technology. What does Stage 3 involve? Introduces a new edition of certification criteria Proposes a new 2015 Edition Base EHR definition Providers must ensure patient engagement by fulfilling two of these options: access to their own records, secure messaging between patients and providers, and collection of patient-gathered health data Increase in computerized physician order entry: providers expected to order 80% of medications electronically; electronic lab and imaging orders to 60%. MU Stage 3 will further identify how health IT certification can support the development of an interoperable nationwide health information infrastructure and is meant to drive better-quality, more cost-effective and coordinated care. Eligible physicians and professionals who do not meet the requirements of MU Stage 3 are expected to pay $500 million in Medicare penalties between 2018 and 2020. All providers are expected to conform to the rules by 2018. The comment period for Stage 3 will end May 29, 2015. More information on meaningful use can be found on the CMS EHR Incentive Programs website. Click here to view Stage 3 Meaningful Use Proposed Rule. Comments are closed.
