Proposed Rules Would Extend EHR Safe Harbor
The CMS and HHS’ inspector general’s office have issued a pair of complementary proposed rules to extend 2006 waivers that relaxed federal Stark and anti-kickback laws to promote the use of electronic health-record systems.
CMS Issues Guidance on EHR Meaningful Use Audits
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has published guidance on Medicare electronic health records meaningful use audits being conducted by its contractor, Figliozzi and Company. States also are conducting their own audits for the Medicaid EHR incentive program.
A Bill in Congress Has People Talking about Meaningful Use Exemptions
Representative Diane Black (R-Tenn.) introduced a bill into Congress on March 21 that would provide significant exemptions from the meaningful use rules. While the bill isn’t expected to go far legislatively, it may help draw the attention of regulators to persistent problems faced by specific groups of physicians.
ONC Officially Launches State Meaningful Use Challenge 2.0
The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) has officially launched the State Meaningful Use Acceleration Challenge 2.0, aiming to motivate every state to participate to help continue to improve care for all their patients. The challenge pits every state and territory against one another to see which would best accelerate the meaningful use incentive program through providers’ EHR adoption.
Researchers Create Tool to Help Kidney Patients Make Hard Transplant Choices
Johns Hopkins scientists have created a web-based tool to help kidney disease patients decide whether it’s best to accept an immediately available, but less-than-ideal deceased donor kidney for transplant, or wait for a healthier one in the future.
Leave a Reply