EHR Central

On this Page: Free EHR Vendor Contract Review CMS Releases Final Rule for Stage 2 of EHR ‘Meaningful Use’ Ophthalmology Meaningful Use Attestation Guide Medical Information Technology

EHR User Satisfaction Survey Results

Exclusive Offer for AAOE Members — Get A FREE EHR Vendor Contract Inspection for New Purchases or Renewals

Mr. Jeffrey Daigrepont, senior vice president at the Coker Group, a nationwide consultancy firm headquartered in Atlanta, will inspect your vendor contract for pitfalls and concerns and provide guidance on how to remediate any issues discovered.

To take advantage of this FREE contract inspection, e-mail your request.

This FREE contract review may help your practice with:

• New purchase of EHR or practice management systems
• Meaningful use guarantees and/or compliance with federal standards
• Specific ophthalmology terminology such as device integration, surgery centers, optical shops, use of eye codes
• System upgrades to meet new requirements like ICD-10-CM
• Data protection
• Vendor performance warranties
• Vendor consolidations or mergers
• EHR replacement or conversions
• Exit strategies

DISCLAIMER: The information provided is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney-client or other professional relationship between you and the contract reviewer. Any final agreement should be reviewed by your own legal and accounting providers.

Physicians must demonstrate these meaningful use measures to qualify for up to $44,000 in Medicare incentives and avoid penalties.

(Washington Report Express, Aug. 23, 2012) 
In response to Academy comment on an earlier proposed rule, CMS has lowered the reporting thresholds necessary to meet several new meaningful use measures, including a controversial measure opposed by the Academy that would measure physicians on their patients’ use of an online patient portal. The rule also finalizes several exemptions from the penalties scheduled to begin in 2015, including a new exemption for physicians who can’t control the availability of a certified EHR in their primary practice locations — such as an ambulatory surgical center. Although the Academy has lobbied CMS and Capitol Hill to include additional exemptions for senior physicians and physicians in small practices, CMS opted not to exempt these physicians at this time. CMS has published a fact sheet on the final rule that reviews the program changes.

CMS has published a fact sheet on the final rule that reviews the program changes.

Additional Resources:

• CMS EHR Incentive Payment and Penalty Schedule.

In recognition that several of the changes to Stage 1 will take place in 2013, the Academy and AAOE have updated the Ophthalmology Attestation Guide. Physicians attesting to Stage 1 of meaningful use for 2012 should continue to use the 2011-2012 Edition. Physicians attesting to Stage 1 of meaningful use in 2013 or later should refer to the updated 2013 edition. A tipsheet outlining the changes that take effect in 2013 is also available. 

• Ophthalmology Meaningful Use Attestation Guide: 2011-2012 Edition [PDF 180K]
• Ophthalmology Meaningful Use Attestation Guide: 2013 Edition [PDF 190K]
• Stage 1 Changes Tipsheet [PDF 200K]

The Academy's Medical Information Technology site on the ONE Network contains useful information, interviews, survey results and documents that address interoperability of information systems and devices in the office and standards for EHRs.