AHA voices support for bill to provide EHR meaningful use flexibility

Sens. John Thune (R-SD), Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Mike Enzi (R-WY), Pat Roberts (R-KS), Richard Burr (R-NC) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) today introduced the Electronic Health Record Regulatory Relief Act (S. 3173), legislation that would provide regulatory flexibility and hardship relief to hospitals and eligible professionals in the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs. The bill would require eligible hospitals and professionals to meet no more than 70% of the required metrics to satisfy meaningful use requirements; codify the 90-day reporting period for reporting year 2016; and extend the ability to apply for a hardship exception through 2017. For more information, see the bill summary. “Your bill would provide much-needed relief to hospitals as they work to ensure patients receive high-quality care,” wrote AHA Executive Vice President Tom Nickels in a letter of support. AHA has long advocated to eliminate the “all-or-nothing approach” to meaningful use.