EHR Meaningful Use Criteria
MedLedger is ONC-ATCB compliant and is certified as a Complete EHR in accordance with Stage 1 Meaningful Use criteria. MedLedger meets all 15 core objectives (required) criteria, and all 10 “menu” objectives criteria (eligible providers must select five of the ten “menu” electives to meet Meaningful Use) described below.
What is Meaningful Use?
The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC-HIT), is the governing entity that defines Meaningful Use in order for providers to qualify for $44,000 (or more) in the incentives set forth by HITECH. Simply put, "meaningful use" means providers need to show they're using certified EMR technology in ways that can be measured significantly in quality and in quantity.
See why MedLedger is the safest path to Meaningful Use.
So what, exactly, is the Meaningful Use Criteria?
For eligible professionals (EPs), there are a total of 25 meaningful use objectives. To qualify for an incentive payment, 20 of these 25 objectives must be met. These objectives are divided into two categories:
Core Objectives - A set of 15 mandatory objectives
"Menu" Objectives - A set of 10 objectives; only five (of the provider's choosing) are required to be met.
Core Objectives Criteria (Required)
1. Use Computerized Physician Order Entry (CPOE) for medication orders at least 30% of the time. (source)
2. Implement drug-drug and drug-allergy interaction checks. (source)
3. Maintain an up-to-date problem list of current and active diagnoses. (source)
4. Generate and transmit permissible prescriptions electronically (eRx) at least 40% of the time. (source)
5. Maintain active medication list. (source)
6. Maintain active medication allergy list. (source)
7. Record all of the following demographics: Preferred language, Gender, Race, Ethnicity, and Date of birth. (source)
8. Record and chart changes in the following vital signs: height, weight, blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), and growth charts for children 2-20 years. (source)
9. Record smoking status for patients 13 years old or older. (source)
10. Report ambulatory clinical quality measures to CMS. (source)
11. Implement one clinical decision support rule relevant to specialty or high clinical priority along with the ability to track compliance with that rule. (source)
12. Provide patients with an electronic copy of their health information (including diagnostic test results, problem list, medication lists, medication allergies) upon request. (source)
13. Provide clinical summaries for patients for each office visit. (source)
14. Capability to exchange key clinical information (e.g., problem list, medication list, medication allergies, and diagnostic test results), among providers of care and patient authorized entities electronically. (source)
15. Protect electronic health information created or maintained by the certified EHR technology through the implementation of appropriate technical capabilities. (source)
Menu Objectives Criteria (5 of 10 electives)
1. Implement drug formulary checks. (source)
2. Incorporate clinical lab test results into EHR as structured data. (source)
3. Generate lists of patients by specific conditions to use for quality improvement, reduction of disparities, research, or outreach. (source)
4. Send reminders to patients per patient preference for preventive/follow-up care. (source)
5. Provide patients with timely electronic access to their health information (including lab results, problem list, medication lists, and allergies) within 4 business days of the information being available to the provider. (source)
6. Use certified EMR technology to identify patient-specific education resources and provide those resources to the patient if appropriate. (source)
7. The provider who receives a patient from another setting of care or provider of care or believes an encounter is relevant should perform medication reconciliation. (source)
8. The provider who transitions their patient to another setting of care or provider of care or refers their patient to another provider of care should provide summary care record for each transition of care or referral. (source)
9. Capability to submit electronic data to immunization registries or immunization information systems and actual submission according to applicable law and practice. (source) - this is a required "elective."
10. Capability to submit electronic syndromic surveillance data to public health agencies and actual submission according to applicable law and practice. (source) - this is a required "elective."
Some Q & A About These Criteria
Q: What if a core objective doesn't apply to my practice?
A: If such cases, demonstrating the core objective is not required.
EXAMPLE - if you're a chiropractor and cannot prescribe medications, you are exempt from # 4 core objective above.
ARRA/HITECH - Government Incentives for EMR Adoption
Path to Payment