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If you have not implemented an Electronic Health Record system yet -- Now is the Time!
Don't miss our featured article Now's the Time! Take Advanage of EHRs.
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| News from the Montana/Wyoming Regional Extension Center |  | |
If you have already reached Meaningful Use Stage 1...then be sure to read
News from the MT/WY REC
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| CMS Releases Corrections Document for Stage 2 Meaningful Use Final Rule |  | |
On Oct. 23, 2012, CMS published a 10-page document document in the Federal Register, which provides minor corrections to the Stage 2 Meaningful Use Final Rule for the EHR Incentive Programs.
The Stage 2 Final Rule was originally published on September 4, 2012, and provides new criteria that eligible professionals, eligible hospitals, and critical access hospitals must meet to successfully participate in the EHR Incentive Programs.
Make sure you are prepared for Stage 2 of the EHR Incentive Programs by visiting the Stage 2 webpage of the EHR Incentive Programs website. Resources include helpful tipsheets that explain meaningful use changes in Stage 2.
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| Vol. 1 Issue #2 | November, 2012 |
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EHR and Health IT Perspectives
Welcome to the Montana/Wyoming Regional Extension Center's EHR and Health IT Perspectives newsletter.
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| NOW's THE TIME! TAKE ADVANTAGE OF EHRs | |
The final rule for Stage 2 Meaningful Use has been finalized and will serve as the foundation for health IT (HIT) implementati on for the next few years. But that's not the only news you should be aware of. CMS will begin assessing payment adjustments to providers who do not implement EHRs and meet specific meaningful use criteria, such as e-prescribing by October 1, 2014.
Act now to avoid these penalties!
As the Regional Extension Center (REC) in Montana/Wyoming, we have been in the trenches for the last few years, achieving success in some of the most challenging settings. We have helped small practices (solo or small groups), public and critical access hospitals, rural health clinics and community health centers achieve their HIT goals. The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that providers were two times more likely to earn Meaningful Use incentives if they worked with an REC.
HIT is the springboard for all of the different pay-for-performance models being discussed for the future of U.S. health care, including bundled payments, PCMH, ACO, etc.
Let us help you create a springboard that meets your needs.
Please contact Marlin Sander at the Montana/Wyoming Regional Extension Center at msander@mpqhf.org.
You can also visit our REC website at Montana/Wyoming Regional Extension Center
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| News from the MT/WY REC | |
Stage 1 Meaningful Use - DONE! Now on to Stage 2
We are ready to help you navigate the next steps of Meaningful Use now that CMS has released the final rule of Stage 2. Stage 2 means higher thresholds in patient engagement and care coordination, 
but also includes specific requirements in
e-prescribing, recording demographic information and transmitting care summaries electronically.
We understand the new rule and can help you continue on your path of success.
Stage 1 - You did your first reporting year. Do you know what is needed for Stage 1 Year 2?
As a reminder...there are MU changes to Stage 1, starting in 2013. We will be glad to continue to help you navigate these changes.
Please contact Marlin Sander at msander@mpqhf.org to learn more about how we can help you with Stage 2 of Meaningful Use.
You can also visit our Montana/Wyoming REC website at Montana/Wyoming Regional Extension Center.
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| Crunch Time for Meaningful Use Stage 2 | |
October 24, 2012
Meaningful Use Stage 2 Crunch Starts Now
 The federal government may have delayed the start of Stage 2 of meaningful use by a year, to 2014, but that does not mean healthcare providers should relax in their pursuit of the intended goals of the EHR incentive program, namely better, safer healthcare at lower cost.
...Indeed, thousands of healthcare facilities will be installing or upgrading their systems next year after vendors update their products to meet the new 2014 EHR certification standards, and that could create a backlog with suppliers. "Get on your vendor's schedule now," McNutt advised. Providers that meet Stage 1 by 2012 can start on the second stage in fiscal year 2014. For Medicare Part A, that begins Oct. 1, 2013, so time really is getting short.
Read on...
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Health IT Resources
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Meaningful Use
This PCMH-MU leave-behind tool uses one model of PCMH to illustrate the synergy between implementing electronic health records and developing a patient-centered medical home.
Electronic Health Record
This resource guide, updated in August 2012 with the release of Meaningful Use Stage 2, provides a list of important information sources including perspectives from peers and industry experts as well as up-to-date information on changes in the healthcare landscape
Electronic Prescribing
CMS ePrescribing Overview
"E-prescribing - a prescriber's ability to electronically send an accurate, error-free and understandable prescription directly to a pharmacy from the point-of-care - is an important element in improving the quality of patient care..."
Additional MT/WY REC Services
MT/WY REC Health Technology Services
REC HTS services are designed to take your organization from its current state-whether you have no EHR or only need to optimize your current system-to stage 1 meaningful use. We offer expert and unbiased advice on systems and services best suited to your needs.
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Thank-you for reading our newsletter. Please contact us if you have any questions or comments.
Thank-you and have a Happy Thanksgiving!
Marlin Sander
Montana/Wyoming Regional Extension Center
msander@mpqhf.org |
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