CMS FACT SHEET LAYS OUT STIMULUS WORK

A fact sheet recently posted on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Web site explains steps that federal officials will take over the next year to implement the health information technology provisions of the federal stimulus package.

The fact sheet summarizes the Medicare and Medicaid incentive programs for meaningful use of electronic health records and gives timelines for implementation activities. A proposed rule in late 2009, for instance, will cover applying for and receiving incentives, meaningful use definitions, harmonized standards to support interoperability and EHR certification criteria. A final rule would come in 2010. The Medicare incentive program for hospitals begins in October 2010.

Some observers believe the proposed rule could instead be an interim final rule with a comment period and quick turnaround to a final rule. By year-end, we should have a very good idea of where 'meaningful use' is going, and a full look in early 2010.

For the complete fact sheet, Click Here