HIT Meaningful Use - Requirements

Hospitals interested in receiving a meaningful use incentive payment must:

1. Register with CMS and, if they are eligible for a Medicaid payment, with a single state Medicaid agency.
2. Ensure that they have certified EHR technology.
3. Ensure that they meet all of the requirements of meaningful use, including reporting of clinical quality measures directly from the EHR.
4. Successfully attest to meeting both the certification and meaningful use requirements.

Both ONC and CMS have been involved in developing the regulations and program for electronic health records meaningful use incentives. You need to be familiar with both sets of information. Below are important resources for understanding what is involved in meeting the meaningful use requirements, including AHA analysis, the actual regulatory text, and more recent guidance from the federal agencies.