Definition of Meaningful Use Finalized

After several months of preliminary specifications and a comment period, CMS finalized the definition of “meaningful use” of certified electronic health records (EHR) technology on July 16, 2010. Eligible professionals meeting the meaningful use criteria on a certified EHR system will be eligible for incentive payments beginning in 2011.

At this time, only Stage 1 Criteria have been defined. Stages 2 and 3 will build from Stage 1 but are not yet finalized. Stage 1 contains 25 objectives/measures divided into a core set and a menu set. Successful users must meet all fifteen (15) objectives/measures in the core set plus five (5) objectives/measures from the menu set.

Detailed fact sheets describing the regulation can be found on the CMS website at: http://www.cms.gov/apps/media/fact_sheets.asp