In short, Stage 2 will focus on increasing patient engagement and involvement in patients’ care, improving care coordination, and expanding health information exchange.
Incentives Turn Into Payment Adjustments
The final Stage 2 rule also outlines timelines and provides more specifics on the payment adjustments that will impact providers who do not attest for meaningful use by 2015. It is important to understand that, in order to avoid payment adjustments in 2015, you will need to begin attesting for meaningful use no later than July 1, 2014.
The Future
Stage 2 will change how you use and share health information and will set the scene for Stage 3, which will focus on improved outcomes in quality, safety and efficiency, clinical decision support, and patient self-management tools that support improved outcomes.
The implementation will call for the adoption of new processes and redefinition of roles, responsibilities, and tasks. This transformation is never easy, but it brings the potential for substantial gains in the quality of care delivered and clinical and administrative efficiencies—and the ACR is here to help.
The ACR has resources available to help you implement meaningful use in your practice. Visit www.rheumatology.org/HIT to read helpful information, watch webinars, or contact our knowledgeable staff.