One-Year Reprieve on EHR 'Meaningful Use' Requirements for 2011 Program Participants

Physicians participating in the Medicare Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Program in 2011 can follow stage 1 meaningful-use standards for using an EHR system for an additional year. The Department of Health and Human Services indicates that participants now have until 2014 before they must follow more-stringent stage 2 meaningful-use standards to qualify for incentives up to $44,000. To qualify for the incentives, participants must demonstrate that they meet a set of meaningful-use requirements defined by CMS. The agency has published an online guide as a reference for participants in the EHR incentive program. A proposed rule defining stage 2 is expected in February.