Industry stakeholders submitting comments on proposed measures for Stage 3 of the Meaningful Use program from ONC's Health IT Policy Committee have expressed concern that the program is moving too quickly and needs additional evaluation before proceeding.
Both the American Medical Association and the American Hospital Association, in comments submitted to ONC Jan. 14, called for a thorough evaluation of the program, especially considering many providers have yet to even achieve Stage 1 of the program. They also recommended that regulators resolve current problems with the program, such as the usability of certified EHRs.
The College of Healthcare Information Management Executives, also submitting comments Jan. 14, recommended that ONC reconsider the speed and scale of meeting Stage 3 by 2016, noting that the proposed thresholds are "unrealistic."
The Committee's recommendations, released Nov. 7 and published in the Federal Register Nov. 26, suggested that some of the percentage thresholds be increased; several new objectives were proposed for stages beyond Stage 3. Some of the provisions new to Stage 3 include offering patients the capability to submit patient-generated information and to request amendments to their records online, requiring EHRs to receive, generate or access appropriate immunization recommendations, and requiring EHRs to be able to query other entities for outside records.
The Committee stated that it will analyze the comments and hold further public meetings about Stage 3 in 2013 before formal rules are issued.
To learn more:
- here's the AMA's comment letter (.pdf)
- here's CHIME's comment letter (.pdf)
- read the AHA's comment letter (.pdf)