A Quick Fix for Meaningful Use Requirements?
A bipartisan bill, the ‘‘Electronic Health Fairness Act of 2014’’, HR 5556, was introduced by Diane Black (R-TN), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), David Scott (D-GA), and Tim Griffin (R-AR) and was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and the House Committee on Ways and Means on September 18, 2014.
As the government control over medical practice unfolds, more “glitches” become apparent.
Ambulatory Surgery Centers were not included in 2009’s HITECH Act regarding calculating patient encounters to achieve “meaningful use” of Electronic Health Records (EHR). The 2009 law’s standards only applied to physician offices and hospitals. Thus people who did the bulk of their work in surgicenters were disadvantaged.
This bill states: “Until such time as EHR technology is certified specifically for use in the ambulatory surgical centers, patient encounters that occur in such a center should not be used when calculating whether an eligible professional meets meaningful use requirements, unless an eligible professional elects to include those encounters.” This provision will sunset three years after surgicenter-certified EHRs are in use.
Read and Track Bill At: https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/113/hr5556
Synopsis Courtesy of Marilyn Singleton, MD, JD
