SMARTMD Monthly Newsletter- A Timely Summary of Your IT News

Government Announces Changes to Timeline for Meaningful Use

Under current regulations, eligible health care providers that attest to Stage 1 of the Medicare EHR incentive program in 2011would need to meet Stage 2 requirements in 2013. However, health care providers who attest to Stage 1 in 2012 would not need to meet Stage 2 requirements until 2014, but they still would be eligible for the same total incentive payment amount.

For more information click on the following link: http://smartmd.com/EMR-Stimulus-Center.html

Report says EHR Usage by Ambulatory Physicians Up in 2011

A new report issued just this week finds nearly 57% of U.S. office-based physicians used some type of electronic health record system in 2011, up from about 51% in 2010 and about 48% in 2009, according to the CDC. Preliminary 2011 estimates show that the percentage of office-based physicians using any type of EHR system ranged from 40% in Louisiana to 84% in North Dakota. According to the data brief, about 52% of office-based physicians in 2011 reported that they intended to apply for Medicare or Medicaid EHR incentive payments, compared with about 41% in 2010.

Here's a link to the HHS statement regarding the timeline changes to meaningful use: http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2011pres/11/20111130a.html

To find out about SMARTMD's EHR solution and how it can help your practice attest successfully to meaningful use, call and speak to one of our EHR sales specialists by dialing toll-free (855) 762-7863.

CMS Issues “EHR Beginners Guide” Free to Physicians

CMS has just condensed the enormous amount of information available on its own website into one handy, presentation-style document that explains the program. The PDF is called “An Introduction to the Medicare EHR Incentive Program for Eligible Professionals”.

Although it is 85 pages long, the presentation is succinct, easy-to-navigate, and covers a full range of topics—including eligibility, program options, meaningful use measures, registration, attestation, other resources, etc.

Check it out! …And for more information, I invite you to browse through SMARTMD’s EHR Stimulus Center Page as well: http://smartmd.com/EMR-Stimulus-Center.html

CMS Issues Change in 5010 Timeline

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced that it will delay enforcement of the 5010 electronic transaction set by 90 days, from January 1, 2012 to the end of March 2012. This is partly due to feedback revealing that testing between some covered entities and their trading partners has not yet reached a threshold whereby a majority of covered entities would be able to be in compliance by January 1, 2012. In addition, many payers are also not ready to accept claims in the 5010 format. While Medicare carriers and the larger commercial plans are prepared, some Medicaid programs and smaller payers are not. Very small insurers have until January 1, 2013 to comply, as do, some private plans that are supposed to be ready might not be. However, you still need to be ready. CMS will not take any 5010-related enforcement actions before the end of March.

For the latest information on 5010, see SMARTMD’s new 5010 page: http://smartmd.com/5010.html

Security and the EHR

Back in the good old day, which means no more than last year or perhaps no more than 2 years ago, protecting patient data was comparatively easy. All you had to do was make sure that nobody got his or her hands on a patient’s paper chart that shouldn’t be looking at it. After all, simple stuff like locking file rooms and making sure charts never get left in a public place is pretty easy to understand. Sure, paper records get stolen or rifled through now and then — no system is perfect — but putting processes in place to prevent unauthorized chart access isn’t that complicated. On the other hand, introducing electronic health records, plus e-prescribing, digital sharing of lab results and more is a completely matter entirely.

For one thing, providers must control access to medical information stored in their EHR in a far more sophisticated way than they had with paper charts. Figuring out just who should get access to what gets a lot more complicated than when you used to just have to pull and route a chart. The bigger issue: few clinicians know much about data security. In fact, most physicians just know what their EHR vendor tells them “Yes, our solution is secured”. It’s just about impossible to explain security issues without wandering into scary jargon that will alienate the heck out of many doctors. Still, the bottom line is that moving from paper to EHRs isn’t just a change-management exercise. It forces clinicians to think about how they use, distribute and share data on a profound level.

To hear more about SMARTMD’s solution and all your data security questions, call and speak to one of our EHR sales specialists by dialing toll-free (855) 762-7863.