One of the more confusing requirements for stimulus funding under the HITECH Act is the definition of “meaningful use.”  The goal of this requirement is to encourage not inly implementation of an EHR, but utilization as well.  Understanding how meaningful use is defined is important when determining your stimulus incentives for implementation of an EHR system.  This is the first in a series of many documents to begin helping the physician understand “meaningful use” requirements and insuring stimulus funds will not be denied.

As of today, meaningful use is still very broadly defined and has a ways to go before a clear understanding emerges.  The initial broad scope requirements outlined in the HITECH Act have undergone a 1st iteration by the Health IT Policy Committee and this iteration is simply a recommendation of the definition for meaningful use.  On July 16, 2009, a second iteration will be released before CMS begins work on the final requirements for compliance with meaningful use.

It is important to not disregard initial iterations of the meaningful use definition.  The 2011 deadline to have an EHR system in place and demonstrating meaningful use is just around the corner.  Implementation and training will likely need to occur before the start of 2011 to qualify for the first incentive payments available to health care providers.  Most likely a certain % of patients will be

Look for a breakdown of the 2nd iteration of the meaningful use definition on this site after the July 16th release date and expect a final publication by CMS before the end of September 2009.

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