More than a quarter of the nation’s top CIOs doubt they will receive the maximum disbursement of Stage 1 Meaningful Use incentive monies for which they are eligible, according to the January healthsystemCIO.com SnapSurvey.
With that in mind, it’s not surprising a slight plurality, 36 percent, graded CMS/ONC’s performance of crafting, communicating and clarifying Stage 1 a “C,” with another 32 percent offering an even less favorable assessment.
When it came to what percentage of organizations the government wanted to qualify for the incentive monies, answers were across the board. But opinion gelled among CIOs when asked what percentage of hospitals and eligible providers must qualify for the programs in order for them to consider it a success, with a strong majority marking that threshold at 80 percent.
Looking forward to Stage 2, confidence didn’t abound, with just under half the CIOs indicating that, based on what they know today, it was unlikely Stage 2 would be achievable within the specified timeframe.
(SnapSurveys are answered by the healthsystemCIO.com CIO Advisory Panel. To see a full-size version of all charts, click here. To go directly to a full-size version of any individual chart, click on that chart)
- We will get major portions of the incentive monies, but not all of it.
- I am growing increasingly less optimistic about our chances. This concept of “contamination from association” means we may drop out of MU S1.
- That is our plan and, unless something stops us from achieving our goal, we will.
- We were part of the first 100 hospitals to attest.
- Yes – we still have certification-related questions and we have deferred several other key projects…but we feel we will get there.
- Yes, and that is assuming that we don’t have a major snafu in any of the projects and the money is there (meaning it has not been depleted).
- We will reach stage 1 in 2012. We should be ready for Stage 2 by 2013, but will need to see the final requirements.
- We will reach Stage 1 for a small number of our facilities.
- Our intent is to reach Stage 1, but there’s a lot of road between here and there.
- We will receive Medicaid monies, but may miss some initial Medicare funds.
- They are figuring it out as they go. And part of figuring out is that they don’t know as much as they need to.
- There are too many ambiguities and unanswered questions.
- It’s been a challenge keeping up with and finding the clarifications.
- They are changing the impact by their FAQ interpretations. We have an entirely different impact than just a few months ago.
- The information has come late and is open to interpretation.
- I would have graded higher last July/August, but CMS’ interpretation of some ONC criteria has not been clear lately. It seems like they are purposely raising the bar so less incentive is paid out.
- Given the timeframe, ONC/CMS did well…however, the timeframes outlined in the law are unrealistic and have created much of the problem.
- It could have been much more clear, have consolidated dates, not change the rules after FINAL rules were released, just for starters.
- Crafting: D-, Communicating & Modifyng: B, Clarifying: F.
- My fear with what we’ve seen in both the Stage 1 and Stage 2 definitions is that instead of allowing organizations to achieving meaningful use using certified systems, ONC is now telling organizations specifically how to achieve meaningful use (e.g., what the required workflows are or specific methodologies). We are reaching a point of needing to meet the letter of the law instead of the intent of the law.
- I think they’ve done a reasonable job; however, the clarifications in many cases require clarifications.
- All well-intentioned, but just not enough collective insight into the variety of starting points, budgets, capabilities, resources, and mostly the dramatic amount of clinical transformation required. If this were only an IT project, it would be a much different story — although it would still be enormously challenging.
- I may have given a hirer score a few months ago, but the deeper we get into details the more questions we have.
- I think nearly all the hospital will get some of the EHR incentives. I think far fewer will truly qualify. If the government wanted to audit the results, they could find enough loopholes to take it all back.
- Qualify for *any* incentives, I think 80 percent, (as opposed to the maximum incentive payout).
- ONC, I am sure, wants 100%, but I don’t believe CMS feels that way.
- 100 percent – Hope springs eternal!
- They should hope for lower adoption rates to stretch the money across all 3 stages.
- I have no idea what they would consider a success, but if more than half don’t get where we need to go, isn’t there still a pretty big gap in the ability to really share information?
- I don’t think they are actually hoping to give any money away, they just are looking to move the needle towards adoption and, most importantly, capturing data in a codified way.
- Minimum of 60% meeting stage 1 would be very successful.
- By 2015, if 80% of hospitals/EPs qualified for some portion of incentive and do not get penalized, I believe that would equate to success.
- The question should be more aligned with which hospitals/eligible providers should qualify. My guess is that those who really needed incentives to get to electronic medical records will still not get there under MU.
- I think hospitals have a much better shot at this than many stand-alone practices.
- If any sizable amount of the country can’t participate, it leaves holes in each and every region, which dilutes the effectiveness of the entire effort.
- This is STIMULUS money. If the money does not get used, the program is a failure.
- Yes, with hard work and single focus.
- I anticipate the requirements will greatly increase while the incentives greatly decrease. I am Stage 1 and done.
- There are some proposed Stage 2 MU criteria that are unrealistic for 10/1/2012.
- We need to understand truly what is Stage 2.
- We’ll be lucky if 50% make it to S1 during S2 timelines.
- Yes, but until it is finalized, it will be hard to tell.
- I believe the majority of hospitals/EPs will still be working on Stage 1 at that time.
- Who knows. The greatest uproar right now is the time which will be allowed to achieve MU Stage 2 and Stage 3. Overall, there is plenty to do in the MUS1 period…
- This is a “no,” as I have not yet read anything on Stage II that would be worth the effort to read.
- We are fortunate in that we were already headed down the right path long before the legislation was created.
- Based upon the current list, yes; however, there are a few things that need clarification.
- We may have to choose between working on ICD-10 v. MU. Do we stand to lose more in reimbursements if we fail at ICD-10 than we stand to gain in incentives if we succeed at MU?
- Under the current framework, there will be massive failure when 2013 approaches.
- Since ARRA goals will remain a priority, it will have to work, but I have not had time to fully evaluate.
- Getting the foundational work done with stage one expedites Stage 2.
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