The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act provides HHS with the authority to establish programs that improve health care quality, safety and efficiency through the promotion of health information technology (HIT), including electronic health records and private and secure electronic health information exchange.
Under HITECH, eligible health care professionals and hospitals can qualify for the EHR Incentive Program and receive Medicare and Medicaid incentive payments when they adopt certified EHR technology and use it to achieve specified Meaningful Use objectives.
Upon study of the 24 measures for hospitals and the 25 measures for eligible professionals, it becomes clear that HIE is a critical component to meet Meaningful Use surrounding patient care coordination and public health reporting.
Although it is not included in most certified EHR systems, HIE is an integral part of Meaningful Use (MU). HIE Networks solution allows providers to complete the exchange requirements of measures for MU stage 1. Additionally, HIE Networks guarantees a solution that will continue to meet the exchange requirements for MU stages 2 and 3.
Meaningful Use Resources:
- Education Materials for the EHR Incentive Programs
- Meaningful Use measures for Eligible Hospitals
- Meaningful Use measures for Eligible Healthcare Professionals
- Attestation registration for the EHR Incentive Program
Visit the HIE Networks blog for more stories on Meaningful Use HIE Compliance.
