Katherine wrote previously on EMR and EHR about the Meaningful Use Stage 2 delay that was agreed to by the Health IT policy committee. However, that committee is basically just a recommendation engine. They can’t make or create policies. So, it’s pretty big news (although not that unexpected) reported by Government Health IT that Mostashari is supporting the meaningful use stage 2 delay until 2014.
Here’s a short quote from that article:
By giving providers and vendors additional time, requirements for stage 2 can be more rigorous than would otherwise be possible if stage 2 were to begin in 2013 as originally planned, Mostashari said.
“In consideration of these points and the concerns expressed by multiple stakeholders, we agree with the logic of delaying the start of stage 2 of meaningful use for a period of one year for those first attesting to meaningful use in 2011. We also agree that it makes sense to maintain the current expectations for those first attesting to meaningful use in 2012 so that all providers attesting to meaningful use in 2011 or 2012 would attest to stage 2 in 2014,” he said.
Although, the article above also offers some even more interesting comments from Mostashari about those that attest to meaningful use in 2011 versus those who attest to meaningful use in 2012.
Providers who attest to meaningful use at the earliest possible time in 2011 should be rewarded, Mostashari said at the July 6 policy committee meeting. Delaying the onset of stage 2 may encourage more providers to attest in 2011.
“The last thing we want to do is provide a disincentive towards attesting for meaningful use in 2011. We recognize that not accepting your recommendation to delay the start of stage 2 could negatively impact provider participation rates in the EHR incentive program in 2011,” he added.
It’s nice to see Mostashari talking about these sorts of topics in public. They are things that we’ve discussed extensively on EMR and HIPAA and EMR and EHR. It’s a topic that is very important to clinics deciding on how to approach meaningful use.
