CHIME: MU Better, Not Perfect

While pleased with some aspects of the final Meaningful Use Stage 1 rule, CHIME still views it as “an aggressive target for the majority of the nation’s hospitals,” according to an early analysis by the organization.

Additionally, CHIME is predicting that many hospitals will have a difficult time qualifying for stimulus funding in subsequent stages of the incentive program, “as objectives increase in number and become harder to meet, and as other aspects of the stimulus program become more challenging.”

On the positive side, the organization liked the injection of flexibility, reduction of some measurement thresholds and inclusion of the ED in CPOE counts. “Because ED patients often become inpatients, the inclusion of ED records is consistent with the goal of improving quality across the continuum of care,” CHIME stated.

According to the organization, CMS still needs to clarify some aspects of the final rule, including whether use of CPOE by a range of medical professionals will enable providers to meet the objective for CPOE usage. It plans to produce a list of questions that need clarification for the final rule, and also produce guidance and support for its members and the industry at large.

“CHIME continues to evaluate and seek clarification on all the implications of the regulation and will be issuing further analyses,” it stated.