EMR meaningful use rules need to be more flexible, doctor groups say
Published: 2010-07-12 22:16:21By: Chris Silva | American Medical News | March 22, 2010
Washington -- More than 90 physician and state medical societies sent a letter to federal officials calling their proposed criteria for the adoption and use of electronic medical records unrealistic and overly ambitious.
Physicians are very supportive of efforts to incorporate EMRs into their practices to improve quality of care and enhance patient safety, stated the March 15 letter, signed by the American Medical Association, the American College of Physicians, the American Academy of Family Physicians and the American College of Surgeons, among many others. Nearly all state medical societies also signed on.
But the 25 proposed meaningful use objectives that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services said physicians would need to meet to be eligible for Medicare or Medicaid bonuses in the project's first stage will deter many physicians from even trying to obtain the incentives, the organizations said. Moreover, the vast majority of physician practices are made up of five or fewer doctors and may not be able to meet the requirements on time.
"Studies of EHR adoption clearly show that it takes more time for smaller practices to adopt and implement EHRs because they have fewer resources and support," the letter stated. "Aggressive timelines and criteria during the initial stage of the incentive program will only serve to undermine this effort."
In late December 2009, CMS proposed the first of three stages of objectives that physicians and hospitals would need to meet to secure Medicare and Medicaid bonuses. At stake is an estimated $14.1 billion to $27.3 billion in net funding over 10 years made available through the most recent economic stimulus package. Medicare eventually would start penalizing physicians who did not adopt and use EMR systems.