Showing the Value of Meaningful Use

For more than 30 years, I have worked on policy issues in our nation’s capitol.  It has been exciting to be part of the policy dialog as the U.S. has tried to reform our healthcare system using information technology.  Finally, after decades of attempts, legislation was passed in 2009 (SCHIP and ARRA) and 2010 (healthcare reform) that now forms the basis for transforming our healthcare system in the United States.  ARRA and HITECH were really the first legislation that proposed the funding the infrastructure necessary for healthcare reform.  This 2009 legislation is now being implemented in 2010 and will provide electronic tools necessary to meet other national healthcare reform priorities. 

Now that this health IT/EHR implementation is at the starting gate, some are wondering if the nation can meet the challenges set by this ambitious legislation.  For example, some feel that the bar for Meaningful Use Phase 1 bar was set too high by CMS, while others feel that the bar has been set too low.  If eligible providers and hospitals don’t become meaningful users by 2015, their federal reimbursements will be reduced as a penalty. 

Policymakers on Capitol Hill are also weighing in on this topic.  Recently, partisan comments were heard at a House congressional committee that the meaningful use bar was set too low and that the incentives program was meaningless. 

HIMSS has consistently supported using information technology to transform healthcare and has worked for decades to ensure that this issue remains non-partisan, and realistic for our members to successfully implement electronic health records. 

I would be interested in your opinion on the ARRA economic incentives around Phase 1 meaningful use.  Are you planning to participate?  Why or why not?  Finally, what can HIMSS do to show healthcare leaders the value of meaningful use and how to achieve meaningful use?