INSIDE CHIME: Making the Case to Streamline Meaningful Use

 

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11.19.15 by Charles Christian, FCHIME, LCHIME, CHCIO, FHIMSS
CHIME Board of Trustees chair; vice president of technology and engagement, Indiana Health Information Exchange

 

In a letter to federal policymakers, CHIME called for eliminating the pass/fail approach to Meaningful Use and reducing the reporting burden on providers.

Earlier this week, CHIME urged policymakers to streamline the Meaningful Use program and reduce the reporting burden on providers. In a letter to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Acting Administrator Andy Slavitt, we noted that the current regulatory framework could stymie efforts to move to value-based reimbursement. The comments were in reply to a request for information (RFI) from the agency regarding implementation of the new Merit-Based Incentive Payment System and implementation of alternative payment models for physicians.

In its RFI, the agency indicated a willingness to move away from the current pass/fail approach to determining if a provider has achieved Meaningful Use. As you know, providers are required to meet multiple measures and objectives. With limited exception, failure to hit any of the regulatory thresholds is deemed a failure and puts the provider at risk of a financial penalties. CHIME expressed support for transitioning eligible professional to a more flexible Meaningful Use compliance model and finding physicians successful if they meet 75 percent or more of the requirements. We also made the case for shifting eligible hospitals off of the existing all-or-nothing approach.

Our letter also encouraged CMS to reduce the reporting burden by eliminating redundant measures and data collection requirements. We pointed out that many CHIME members submit more than 20 reports across federal, state and private sector program for various clinical quality measures each month. Hours of work and expertise are required to comply with these reporting demands and such burdens are exacerbated by a lack of technical harmonization. The goal, our letter stated, should be to eliminate duplicative quality measures and reporting requirements.”

For a copy of CHIME’s letter, click here.

More Inside CHIME Volume 1, No. 5: