Quirk Insights Oct. 31, 2013

OCT. 31,2013

Quirk Healthcare Solutions White Paper

Meaningful Use: What Does It Mean? improving health outcomes by empowering individuals

Meaningful Use: What Does It Mean?

INSIGHTS

About Quirk Healthcare Solutions Our team has worked with clients in industries ranging from one-physician clinics to nationwide organizations. Our staff includes physicians, nurses, MHAs, and MBAs to provide a multi-faceted view to all challenges. We’ve distilled what works, and we can provide an invaluable perspective. Everyone on our team brings real-world experience to the table.

We are doers, not theorists. This wealth of knowledge offers us a unique perspective into the strategies that work and those that don’t; we want to share the most effective ones with you.

PAGE 2 Meaningful Use: What Does It Mean?

Contents What is Meaningful Use?

3

Meaningful Use Stage 2

3

Stage 2 Timeline and Incentives Schedule

4

Conclusion

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What Is Meaningful Use? Electronic Health Records (EHRs) can offer significant

MU will be measured in stages over five years. Each stage

benefits to both healthcare providers and patients.

represents a level of IT adoption within the healthcare

However, this is true only if they are used meaningfully;

industry. As stated on government healthcare technology

that is, in ways that can be measured for a positive

websites, the goal of MU is to promote the spread of

outcome.

From this idea was born the federal

electronic health records to improve healthcare in the

government’s Meaningful Use (MU) initiative. MU is a set of

United States. The initiative includes both accurate

standards defined by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid

capture of a wide range of health data as well as secure

Services (CMS) that governs the use of electronic health

online access to this data by patients.

records and allows eligible providers and hospitals to earn incentive payments by meeting specific criteria.

The goal of MU is to promote the spread of EHR to improve healthcare in the U.S.

Meaningful Use Stage 2 Meaningful Use Stage 1 could be summarized as “data capture,” while

One of the benefits of Stage 2 is empowerment, enabling patients to take

Stage 2 could be summarized as “data access.” Although Stage 2 does

an active role in their care by having access to their EHRs. Patients will be

include some expansion of the types of information stored electronically,

able to:

its primary focus is on using that data in a meaningful way.

For Stage 2, eligible providers are required to meet 17 core objectives. In addition, providers must select 3 menu objectives from a list of 6, for a

• Securely access their personal records online, with the ability to view and transmit their health information within 4 business days of the information becoming available.

total of 20 core objectives. These measures are intended to increase

• Send their electronic records to anyone they wish. This would include

health information exchange among providers and promote patient

not only healthcare providers but also family members, thus enabling

engagement.

Stage 2 systems integration means that providers can electronically order not only prescriptions, but also tests and treatments. As a result, follow-ups and outcomes will be available to all providers treating a given patient. In addition, healthcare providers will be able to reconcile data in those records to provide the most accurate and up-to-date information possible. The final goal is to create a single, accurate electronic health record, incorporating all available health data, from all providers.

families to share information concerning hereditary diseases and disorders. With better access to personal and family health records, healthcare consumers can be more hands-on and proactive with regard to their treatment options.

PAGE 4

CMS Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs The chart below shows both: • the CMS timeline for MU • the Medicare EHR Incentive Payment Schedule

Last year to receive Medicaid EHR Incentive Payment

2021 2016 2015

Feb. 29, 2012 Last day for EPs to register and attest to receive an Incentive Payment for CY 2011

2014

Nov. 30, 2011 Last day for eligible hospitals tand CAHs to register and attest to receive an Incentive Payment for FFY 2011

May 2011 EHR Incentive Payments begin Apr. 2011 Attestation for the Medicare EHR Incentive Program begins

Jan. 2011 • Registration for the EHR Incentive Programs begins • For Medicaid providers, States may launch their programs if so choose

• Last year to receive a Medicare EHR Incentive Payment • Last year to initiate participation in Medicaid EHR Incentive Program Medicare payment adjustments begin for EPs and eligible hospitals that are not meaningful users of EHR technology Last year to initiate participation in the Medicare EHR Incentive Program

Winter 2012 Fall 2011 Spring 2011 Winter 2011 Fall 2010

Certified EHR technology available and listed on ONC website

Although providers are not expected to implement Stage 2 prior to its

While multiple Stage 1 measures have been retained and combined under

January 2014 effective date, CMS does expect compliance at that time. For

Stage 2, most of the percentages for those measures have been increased.

providers who have already completed both phases of MU Stage 1 (90-day

In addition, there are a number of new measures that will require prior

attestation and full-year attestation), this leaves very little time for any

planning for successful attestation.

necessary EHR software and hardware upgrades.

This is the Title of White Paper

Stage 2 Timeline and Incentive Schedule

Stage 2 Timeline and Incentive Schedule Medicare EHR Incentive Payment Schedule for Eligible Professionals

Payment Amounts

If a Medicare Eligible Professional Qualifies to Receive First Payment in 2011

If a Medicare Eligible Professional Qualifies to Receive First Payment in 2012

If a Medicare Eligible Professional Qualifies to Receive First Payment in 2013

If a Medicare Eligible Professional Qualifies to Receive First Payment in 2014

Payment amount for 2011 will be

$18,000

Payment amount for 2012 will be

$12,000

$18,000

Payment amount for 2013 will be

$8,000

$12,000

$15,000

Payment amount for 2014 will be

$4,000

$8,000

$12,000

$12,000

Payment amount for 2015 will be

$2,000

$4,000

$8,000

$8,000

$2,000

$4,000

$4,000

$44,000

$39,000

$24,000

Payment amount for 2016 will be

Total payment amount will be

$44,000

Additional incentives are available!

Medicare eligible professionals who predominantly furnish services in an area designated as a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) will receive a 10% increase in their annual EHR incentive payments. (NOTE: The additional 10% HPSA incentive is not available for eligible professionals who participate in the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program.)

PAGE 6

Medicaid EHR Incentive Payment Schedule for Eligible Professionals

Payment Amounts

Medicaid EP Qualifies to Receive First Payment in 2011

Medicaid EP Qualifies to Receive First Payment in 2012

Medicaid EP Qualifies to Receive First Payment in 2013

Medicaid EP Qualifies to Receive First Payment in 2014

Medicaid EP Qualifies to Receive First Payment in 2015

Medicaid EP Qualifies to Receive First Payment in 2016

Payment amount in 2011

$21,250

Payment amount in 2012

$8,500

$21,250

Payment amount in 2013

$8,500

$8,500

$21,250

Payment amount in 2014

$8,500

$8,500

$8,500

$21,250

Payment amount in 2015

$8,500

$8,500

$8,500

$8,500

$21,250

$8,500

$8,500

$8,500

$8,500

$21,250

$8,500

$8,500

$8,500

$8,500

$8,500

$8,500

$8,500

$8,500

$8,500

Payment amount in 2016 Payment amount in 2017 Payment amount in 2018 Payment amount in 2019 Payment amount in 2020 Total Incentive Payments

$8,500

$63,750

$63,750

$63,750

$63,750

$63,750

$63,750

Conclusion With completion of each stage of Meaningful Use, EHR health data

Nonetheless, the extensive benefits to public health in general cannot be

becomes broader, more accurate, and more accessible. Significant

underestimated. Meaningful Use means that providers with an EHR

financial incentives are available for healthcare providers who comply

system can access and provide a single, comprehensive, and accurate

with MU. Such financial incentives are necessary to offset the

pictures of a patient’s health.

considerable costs associated with data system modifications.

This is the Title of White Paper

Stage 2 Timeline and Incentive Schedule

2MILLION

$

in Meaningful Use payments

five star rating

Quirk offers a full range of services for our clients Quirk Healthcare Solutions offers a full range of services for our clients who are looking to demystify MU, meet all criteria, and be able to report on it.

This includes: • EHR optimization • Workflow optimization • Reporting • Attestation • Audit preparation and assistance

For more information on how Quirk Healthcare Solutions can help your practice prepare for Meaningful Use, contact us at 855.WE.QUIRK or info@quirkhealthcare.com

www.quirkhealthcare.com

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