Home Forums Discussions General Discussion Meaningful Use

I found this site while reading up on CCHIT on ZDNet.com and thought a few of you might be interested.

http://www.meaningfuluse.org/

Great pickup, Paul! The only thing that the site fails to mention is the total cost of "meaningful use", which will include the reporting, and the lost time using eRx and using the more clunky CCHIT-bloated areas of the EHR.

Haven't done the math? I did (it's about $300000.00 over 5 years for the typical c-EHR license, slightly less for use of AC)- check it out here: http://www.hcplive.com/mdnglive/articles/PC_Medicare_HIT_mandate

Also, as Medicare begins to run out of money over the next 8 years, they will ask for more reporting just when they will begin to ratchet down reimbursements precipitously. Somehow, I don't see these 2 forces (HITECH and decreased payments) synergistically working well in the typical medical office.

Al

The focus is on cost containment, with a nod to quality. Unfortunately any factor that can reign in cost will probably get the nod, so Al's comments above are accurate.

There actually is very little data proving EHRs will actually improve the quality of health care. We all think it is a good idea, and that is why we use AC.

Although the intial stimulus package for EHRs was proposed, I wonder if it will fizzle before the details become finalized.