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What
is “meaningful use” of an EHR? Definition to outline qualifications
for stimulus incentives
Policy-makers
in Washington, D.C., continue the debate over the definition of “meaningful
use” as it applies to the electronic health record (EHR) incentives contained
in the economic stimulus legislation. The legislation states broadly that a
qualifying EHR must be “certified” and have the ability to e-prescribe,
exchange patient information electronically and report quality measures.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has indicated that a
proposed regulation defining meaningful use and outlining in more detail
the Stimulus legislation’s EHR incentive programs could be released as
early as this Fall.
As
physician practices seek to take advantage of the up to $44,000 per
physician Medicare incentives included in the Stimulus legislation, the
selection of appropriate EHR software is critical. The Medical Group
Management Association (MGMA) is assisting practice administrators meet
this challenge through a wide array of educational resources. As part of
our educational efforts, on May 19th MGMA is presenting the webinar
“Preparing Your Practice for Successful EHR Implementation: Tactics and
Tips to Help You Deal with the Problems You'll Face During the Early Stages
of Your EHR Transition” with faculty Rosemarie Nelson, MS, a nationally
recognized EHR expert. MGMA members receive a 25 percent discount on this important
Webinar.
Access
the EHR Solutions page.
"Heal
the Claims Process"™ questionnaire
This
year MGMA will partner with the American Medical Association (AMA) as part
of its “Heal the Claims Process” campaign. The initiative seeks to improve
efficiency and help reduce health care costs for all participants in the
health care claims process. The campaign’s goal for physician practices is
to reduce the cost of submitting claims from as much as 14 percent to just
1 percent of revenue, freeing more of your organization’s time and
resources for patient care.
We
encourage you to participate in a five-minute AMA
questionnaire to help our organizations understand member experiences
in managing claims denials. The information will help us determine how we
can best assist you. Watch for more information as we roll out the campaign
later this year.
CMS
posts revised 2008 PQRI data; revised 2007 and 2008 PQRI payments and
reports expected in October 2009
The
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently published revised
aggregate-level on the causes of invalid data submission or reporting
in the first nine months of the 2008 Physician Quality Reporting Initiative
(PQRI). In late February, CMS posted similar information for the same time
frame. This new posting, however, features revised calculations that
address three errors made by the agency. As a result of the corrected
analytics, the percentage of valid code submissions rose 11.1 percent (from
57.2 percent to 68.3 percent).
The
issues raised in this document could significantly help practices
participating in the PQRI amend their potential reporting errors. It could
also assist medical groups that intend to use one of three reporting
options that become available July 1:
- Claims-based
reporting on one measures group for 80 percent of applicable Medicare
Part B patients for each eligible professional (including a minimum of
15 patients during the reporting period
- Registry-based
reporting on at least three PQRI measures for at least 80 percent of
applicable Medicare Part B patients
- Registry-based
reporting on one measures group for 80 percent of applicable Medicare
Part B patients of each eligible professional (including a minimum of
15 patients during the reporting period)
In
addition, MGMA met recently with CMS and the agency announced it will most
likely make the revised 2007 and 2008 PQRI payments and feedback reports
available in October. MGMA supports activities that seek to improve patient
care and clinical outcomes. The Association continues to advocate that CMS
move the PQRI into a program that provides timely and actionable clinical
information to physicians.
On May
20, CMS will host a national conference call on the PQRI from 2:30 p.m. to
4:30 p.m. EST. Registration
is required.
Join
the MGMA Government Affairs Committee
If you
want to help guide MGMA’s positions on public policy issues that affect
medical groups, apply
to join the Government Affairs Committee (GAC). As a member of the GAC, you
will:
- Review
proposed federal legislation and regulations
- Recommend changes
to MGMA policy, when necessary, to accomplish legislative or
regulatory goals
- Maintain
surveillance over federal legislation and regulations and
anticipate member needs
- Monitor the
development and issuance of federal regulations and make recommendations
to the Board of Directors concerning appropriate policy on such
regulations
This is
a great opportunity to sharpen your leadership skills and expand your
professional network. Applications are
due by May 15. Committee appointments are effective October 2009.
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