The Health IT Policy Committee has adopted the recommended matrix for a definition of "meaningful use." "Meaningful Use" is the standard for reimbursement incentives (by Medicare and Medicaid) for physician and hospital providers who implement Electronic Health Records (EHRs). Incentive payments should begin in 2011 and gradually phase down. Providers will be expected to adopt and utilize EHRs in compliance with "meaningful use" in 2015. The Committee makes recommendations to the Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) for Health Information Technology on policy development for health information infrastructure.

The recommendations by the Meaningful Use Workgroup of the Committee may have possible adjustments in future meetings regarding issues such as the timeframe for implementation. The matrix objectives for eligible providers 2011 include:

--Maintain an up-to-date problem list of current and active diagnoses based on ICD-9 or SNOMED
--To use computerized physician order entry for all orders
--To implement drug-allergy, drug-formulary checks
--To generate and transmit permissible prescriptions electronically
--To maintain active medications and medication allergy lists
--To record patient primary language, insurance information, and demographics (race, gender, ethnicity)
--To record advance directives
--To record vital signs
--To record smoking status
--To give patients an electronic copy of their health information (including lab results, problem list, medication lists, allergies) upon request
--To document a progress note for each encounter

Some 2013 measures include managing chronic conditions using patient lists and decision support; specialists reporting to external disease or device registries approved by the CMS, offering secure patient-provider messaging capability, and documenting family and medical history in compliance with GINA.

At the end of the year, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) should be releasing a proposed rule on the definition of meaningful use for public comment before a final rule is adopted. CMS is working with the ONC on the criteria for the definition.

Source: Based on the Meaningful Use Workgroup's Matrix and documents from the Health IT Policy Committee.

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