Meaningful Use Overview
Meaningful use is using certified EHR technology to
- Improve quality, safety, efficiency, and reduce health disparities
- Engage patients and families in their healthcare
- Improve care coordination
- Improve population and public health
- Maintain privacy and security
The overarching goal of the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act is not the mere adoption of new technology, but the use of electronic health records (EHR) to systematically improve healthcare access, delivery, and quality. The HITECH Act and its associated regulations describe the application of EHR technology toward that end as "meaningful use."
Being a meaningful user indicates successful achievement of specific procedural and clinical benchmarks using certified EHR technology. Providers will attain meaningful use by progressing through three stages during their years of participation in the EHR Incentive Program and attesting to those achievements. Stage 1 criteria focus on capturing information electronically in a structured format, implementing clinical decision support tools, engaging patients in their healthcare, and reporting public health and quality measures. Stages 2 and 3 are expected to have a greater focus on health information exchange and improvements in quality of care and patient access. Other aspects of the HITECH Act in addition to the EHR Incentive Program, such as provisions for health information exchanges, are designed to support the meaningful use of electronic health information.
Eligible providers can earn incentive payments by attesting to meaningful use measures using the Provider Incentive Payment Program (PIPP) portal. Below are information and resources to facilitate successful attestation.
Three Stages of Meaningful Use
 Stage 1 |
 Stage 1 |
Eligible providers who have attested to adopting, implementing, or upgrading (A/I/U) certified EHR technology will work toward achieving Stage 1 Meaningful Use in their second year of participation in the EHR Incentive Program. Stage 1 Meaningful Use is governed by CMS' Final Rule, which works in conjunction with the Standards and Certification Final Rule governing certified EHR technology.
Stage 2
The Proposed Rule for Stage 2 was published in the Federal Register on February 23, 2012, and CMS has provided a fact sheet overview. The 60 day comment period ends May 6, 2012, with the Final Rule scheduled to be published in the summer. Medicaid eligible professionals will not begin recording measures associated with Stage 2 until calendar year 2014, eligible hospitals fiscal year 2014.
Stage 3
Stage 3 criteria are yet to be promulgated by CMS, and there is no current timeline for the release of the proposed and final rules.
Contact Us
If you have any questions or concerns about meaningful use after viewing these webpages, please e-mail EHRMeaningfulUse.TennCare@tn.gov.
