NAPH, AHA, and Others Advocate Change to EHR Rules - May 5, 2010

On May 3, NAPH, the American Hospital Association and other groups submitted a letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius voicing common concerns on the Electronic Health Records (EHR) Incentive Program proposed rule issued January 13. Among other changes, the group advocates for developing one set of meaningful use criteria and distributing Medicaid incentives in payment years 2011 and 2012. The group also requests a definition of hospital to include individual sites within hospital systems, greater flexibility and more time to achieve meaningful use, increased focus on clinical objectives of EHR, less burdensome reporting requirements, and more feedback so providers may know if they are meeting criteria for incentive payments. HHS is anticipated to issue a final rule on the EHR Incentive Program later this spring.