OMB reviews stage 3 meaningful use requirements

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has recently confirmed that stage 3 meaningful use is currently in the process of being examined and reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget.

5 health IT predictions for 2015

Experts have made a few predictions for the continuing progress of health IT this year based off of the many changes implemented in 2014.

Why do so few patients use patient portals?

When it comes to the benefits of electronic health records, access to patient portals is one of the most significant.

How is interoperability affecting patient privacy?

One of the most advantageous aspects of electronic health records is that they encourage interoperability.

Stage 2 meaningful use attestations remain discouraging

The number of eligible hospitals that successfully attested for stage 2 meaningful use significantly increased between the start of November and December. 

How to survive a meaningful use audit [Video]

Every practice that's receiving electronic health system incentive payments from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' Incentive Programs is subject to a meaningful use audit at any time.

CMS extends hospital 2014 meaningful use reporting deadline

On Nov. 23, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced that both eligible hospitals and critical access hospitals now have until Dec. 31 to apply for meaningful use attestation for the Medicare EHR Incentive Program 2014 reporting year.

CMS adds new hardship exemption to meaningful use

In an attempt to add more flexibility to the EHR Incentive Programs, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services included "extreme and uncontrollable circumstances" as a new meaningful use hardship exemption.

5 important meaningful use dates

Here are five important dates that providers and hospitals should be sure they do not forget about within the coming year.

2014 meaningful use data proves disappointing

There are four provider associations that are reissuing their calls to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to rethink the requirements for meaningful use during 2015.

What stage 2 meaningful use should really be about

Although electronic health record systems and other health IT devices have proven to be effective for many practices that have adopted them, most providers are not as focused as they should be on the improved patient outcomes that the principles can provide.

AMA suggests ways to ease burden of MU requirements

The American Medical Association has provided a few recommendations as to how EHR incentive providers can increase flexibility for practices struggling to adhere to the meaningful use principles, especially as plans for stage 3 of meaningful use are in the works.

CMS extends hardship exemption deadlines

The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has recently reopened the submission period for meaningful use exemption applications.

Thousands of providers seek exemption from 2015 meaningful use principles

The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has recently announced that it has received thousands of requests from eligible providers for exemption from penalties starting next year for those who do not meet the new meaningful use principles for EHR technology certified to the 2014 edition.

EHRs shown to improve patient safety and reduce medical errors

The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology recently did a presentation during Health IT Week on how electronic health records are capable of enhancing patient safety while increasing the quality of care by providers and lowering the possibility of medical errors when providers adhere to meaningful use standards.

How can doctors and patients benefit from EHRs?

EHRs have been proven to enhance the process of diagnosing diseases while preventing medical errors. Meanwhile, technological advances in personal health records are also increasing convenience for patients accessing their data.

CMS releases guidance for meeting Patient Electronic Access objective

To aid eligible professionals in meeting these standards, the Center fro Medicare and Medicaid Services has recently released guidance for calculating patient electronic access across multiple providers.

Audit finds Louisiana Medicaid overpaid $3.1 million in EHR incentives

A recent audit conducted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office of the Inspector General found that Louisiana's Medicaid program overpaid 13 hospitals by $3.1 million and underpaid six hospitals by $1.3 million.