Public Health Meaningful Use – Previous Years’ Requirement
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 specifies three main components of Meaningful Use (MU):
- The use of certified EHR technology for electronic exchange of health information to improve quality of health care.
- The use of certified EHR technology to submit clinical quality and other measures.
- The use of a certified EHR in a meaningful manner, such as e-prescribing.
Simply stated, “meaningful use” means providers need to show they’re using certified EHR technology in ways that can be measured significantly in quality and in quantity.
To qualify and receive MU incentives, participating providers and facilities must meet various operational and public health criteria established by Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services (CMS) with the Office of National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC).
For more information on the EHR incentive programs, visit the following links:
- Medicare & Medicaid EHR Incentive Program
- Arkansas Medicaid Incentive Program
Stage 1
Stage 1 MU final rule requirements have been divided into 15 core set objectives, and ten menu set objectives (where there is an option to pick five of ten). The three public health objectives in the Stage 1 menu set are submission of electronic data to public health in the context of 1) Immunizations, 2) Reportable Laboratory Results (Eligible Hospitals only), and 3) Syndromic Surveillance. Unless an Eligible Professional (EP) or Eligible Hospital (EH) has an exception for all the objectives, it is mandatory to complete at least one public health objective as part of their demonstration of the menu set in order to be a meaningful user of EHR technology.
Eligible Professional (EP) Menu Set Objectives
- Capability to immunization registries or immunization information systems and actual submission according to applicable law and practice.
- Capability to submit syndromic surveillance data to public health agencies and actual submission according to applicable law and practice.
- Download a .zip file that contains all the EHR Meaningful Use Core and Menu Set Measures.
Download
- View the quick reference grid for Meaningful Use Stage 1 Objectives/Measures and 2014 Certification Criteria and Standards.
Stage 2
Meaningful Use Stage 2 rules have been finalized, and will be implemented for Eligible Professionals (EP) in calendar year 2014 and for Eligible Hospitals (EH) in federal fiscal year 2014 (October 1, 2013). Note: Both EPs and EHs must have participated in MU Stage 1 in either 2011 or 2012 to be eligible to participate in Stage 2 in 2014.
In Stage 2 the three measures for public health from Stage 1 continue and are expanded.
Immunization electronic data reporting is a core (required) measure for EPs, and syndromic surveillance reporting continues to be a menu measure. Two additional menu measures have been added for public health—reporting of cancer cases to the State registry, and reporting of specific cases to a specialized registry (to be determined).
Submission of electronic data to immunization registries, lab reporting, and syndromic surveillance to public health agencies are core measures.
Stage 2 Meaningful Use Core and Menu Measures Table of Contents
- Eligible Professionals (EP)
- Eligible Hospital (EH) and Critical Access Hospital (CAH)
Download
- View the quick reference grid for Meaningful Use Stage 2 Objectives/Measures and 2014 Certification Criteria and Standards.
Declaration of Readiness
What does Declaration of Readiness mean?
Beginning fall 2013, any Public Health Agency (PHA) that intends to receive electronic data from health care providers enrolled in the MU program will need to declare its readiness for receiving such data, or else providers may claim exclusions from public health objectives of MU.
CMS is considering building a centralized repository of information from PHAs describing their readiness for the various public health reporting objectives contained in the Meaningful Use Stage 2 (MU2) regulations.
Having this information in a centralized repository will enable “one-stop shopping” for providers and vendors seeking information on how specific public health departments will be accommodating MU objectives. However, even if CMS does not provide a national repository, PHAs will need to publicly declare their MU readiness in some fashion.
Is the Arkansas Department of Health ready to declare?
The regulations say that a provider must determine which MU public health objectives are supported by the PHA to which it reports. Furthermore, the provider must make this determination within the first 60 days of the EHR reporting period. The EHR reporting period is the time period that a Provider seeking MU incentive payments must demonstrate meaningful use of EHR.
As of September 2013, the Arkansas Department of Health can accept electronic transmissions for the following Public Health objectives: Immunizations, Laboratory Reporting, Syndromic Surveillance, and Cancer.
Note: The Arkansas Department of Health is currently not accepting electronic submission of data on specialized registries. If at a later date, ADH is able to accept data on specialized registries, the information will be posted here as well as the proposed Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) centralized capacity repository (when available).
Registration and On-Boarding for Public Health MU Objectives
In alignment with the activities related to Meaningful Use, the ADH has created an online registration and communication system that’s capable of collecting and recording information on Eligible Professionals, Eligible Hospitals, and Critical Access Hospitals who want to submit electronic data on immunizations, syndromic surveillance, reportable lab results, and cancer. The intent of the registration system will allow the user to enter required information to inform the specific program within the public health system.
Click on the following programs to learn more about the On-Boarding Process for each of the following public health options:
Cancer Registry
Cancer reporting from ambulatory providers to state cancer registries is a new public health objective for Stage 2 Meaningful Use.
Electronic Lab Reporting (ELR)
Electronic Laboratory Reporting (ELR) is the electronic transmission from laboratories to public health of laboratory reports which identify reportable conditions.
Immunization Information System (IIS)
Immunization Information Systems (IIS) are confidential, population-based, computerized information systems that attempt to collect vaccination data about all individuals within a geographic area.
Syndromic Surveillance
Syndromic surveillance allows public health to monitor syndromes, or collections of symptoms, over time to quickly and accurately detect outbreaks or monitor diseases, disorders, or conditions.
Those interested in pursuing the Public Health Meaningful Use objectives can proceed to the Meaningful Use Registration and Communications System (MURCS).
The Privacy Rule permits covered entities to disclose PHI, without authorization, to public health authorities or other entities who are legally authorized to receive such reports for the purpose of preventing or controlling disease, injury, or disability.
Resources
- Promoting Interoperability (PI) Programs
- Health IT (ONC)
- Public Health Meaningful Use (CDC)
- Medicare Attestation
Continue to check this site for current ADH Meaningful Use testing requirements and instructions. This is an evolving process as ADH acquires new technology.
Contact Information
Meaningful Use Coordinator
Phone: 855-218-3099
ADH.ORG.MU@arkansas.gov
