The Fundamentals of Meaningful Use – Review of Ophthalmology

A look at Medicare requirements and incentives for becoming a “meaningful user” of electronic health records.

This article answers the following questions:

• Where did the phrase “meaningful use” first appear?
• What are the fundamentals of meaningful use?
• How will these requirements be implemented?
• Is there financial incentive to be a meaningful user of EHR?
• How does a physician qualify for the Medicare HIT bonus?
• Are bonus payments mare to individual physicians?
• What is the maximum incentive payment for the bonus programs?
• Will I be penalized if I do not adopt EHR and meet meaningful use requirements?
• What steps should I take to achieve meaningful use?
• What are the general requirements for Stage 1 meaningful use?
• If I have EHR and want to participate in the Medicare bonus program, how do I start the process to report meaningful use?
• If I have met the requirements for meaningful use, Stage 1, how do I inform CMS?
• Am I required to have met meaningful use for the entire year?
• When can we expect to be held accountable for Stage 2 and Stage 3 requirements?
• How much bonus money has been paid to physicians for the Medicare EHR incentive program?

This article was published in Review of Ophthalmology’s Medicare Q & A column, which is written by Corcoran’s Vice-President, Donna McCune, CCS-P, COE, CPMA. To view the entire article in Review of Ophthalmology, click on the link below:

http://bt.e-ditionsbyfry.com/publication/?i=128023

See page 24.