Meaningful Use and EHR Technology Regulations
The good news is that the government has released the proposed regulations on meaningful use and interim final rule setting forth the standards and certification criteria for EHR technology. The bad news is that these tomes combined are 692 pages. CMS has issued fact sheets summarizing the regulations, including an overview of the phased-in approach to the criteria that will be applied to define "meaningful use." Dr. David Blumethal, the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology at the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, wrote a guest column for the Wisconsin Technology Network stating that "Great care was taken in the development of these criteria." Nevertheless, one can't help but to wonder - if it takes over 500 pages to explain meaningful use . . . where are we headed? The public comment period will last for 60 days, that is, if you can finish reading the proposed regulations by then!
