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Meaningful Use Core Requirements For Healthcare Providers
So what are the more than two-dozen core "meaningful use" requirements that healthcare providers need to meet in order to qualify for financial incentives? Take a look here.
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To qualify for the first wave of HITECH meaningful use incentives starting in 2011, hospitals have to meet 14 core requirements and eligible professionals -- such as doctors and nurse practioners -- must meet 15 core requirements.
In addition to those core requirements, healthcare providers also must meet five objectives of their choosing from a menu of 10.
Here is a summary of the core requirements healthcare providers must meet in their "meaningful use" of health IT such as e-health records and computerized physician order entry systems.
Some of the requirements vary slightly depending upon whether the healthcare provider is an eligible professional (doctor, nurse practitioner, etc.) or a hospital.
Use CPOE for at least one medication order for more than 30% of patients.
Implement drug-drug and drug interaction checks.
More than 40% of permissible prescriptions written are generated and transmitted electronically using certified EHR technology (for eligible providers only).
Record demographic info, such as gender and race, for 50% of patients seen by EP or admitted by hospital.
Maintain up to date problem list of current and active diagnoses for 80% of patients.
Maintain active medication list for 80% of patients seen by EP or admitted to hospital.
Maintain active drug allergy list for 80% of patients seen by EP or admitted to hospital.
Record and chart changes in vital signs, such as height, weight, BMI, blood pressure, for more than 50% of patients over age 2.
Record smoking status for more than 50% of patients over age 13.
Implement one clinical decision support rule for EP's specialty or hospital's high priority condition and track compliance with that rule.
Report clinical quality measures to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Provide more than 50% of patients with electronic copy of health information upon request within 3 business days.
Provide 50% of patients with electronic copy of discharge instructions at time of discharge (for hospitals only.)
Provide clinical summaries for each office visit to more than 50% of patients within 3 business days (eligible professionals only.)
Perform at least one test of certified e-health record's capability to electronically exchange key clinical information, such as problem list or medication list, among providers of care or patient-authorized entities.
Protect electronic health information created or maintained by certified EHR technology by conducting or reviewing security risk analysis and implementing security updates.
For a more detailed look at the government's 864-page document outlining the full set of regulations, click here. A chart listing the requirements starts on page 221.
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