Less than 17% of Hospitals Demonstrate MU Stage 2 Capabilities, CMS Says

Key stakeholders say the results of a federal report are "disappointing, yet predictable" and call once again for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to shorten the 2015 reporting period.

News Tuesday from the federal government that less than 17% of the nation's hospitals have reached Stage 2 capabilities under Meaningful Use requirements was met with consternation but not surprise from a coalition of provider associations.

The news came Tuesday during a briefing by the Department of Health and Human Services' HIT Policy Committee, which also reported that less than 38% of eligible hospitals and critical access hospitals have met either stage of Meaningful Use so far in 2014.

The Impact of the ICD-10 Delays

The same report also showed that only 2% of eligible professionals, including physicians, dentists, optometrists, and certified midwives, have met MU Stage 2, although they have until the end of February, 2015 to meet that benchmark.

The news prompted key stakeholders to issue a joint statement calling the results "disappointing, yet predictable" and to renew calls for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to shorten the 2015 reporting period. 

"The low number of EP attestations to date is clear evidence that physician practices and their vendor partners have faced significant challenges in meeting the more onerous Stage 2 requirements of meaningful use," said Anders M. Gilberg, senior vice president, government affairs, with the Medical Group Management Association.

"Shortening the reporting period in 2015 is a much needed change if the program is to remain viable and is a critical step if the nation is to continue making progress toward the goal of interoperability," he added.

CMS data shows that more than 3,900 hospitals must meet Stage 2 measures and objectives in 2015 and more than 260,000 eligible professionals will need to be similarly positioned by Jan. 1, 2015.

Given the low attestations for 2014 and the large number of providers likely unable to fulfill Stage 2 for a full 365-days in 2015, providers have pressed for a shortened reporting period in 2015, mirroring the policy of 2014.

Russell P. Branzell, president/CRO of the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives, says the government's own data validates the concerns of providers and IT specialists who've called for "a sensible glide-path into 2015."

"Providers have struggled mightily in 2014, in many instances for reasons beyond their control," Branzell said. "If nothing is done to help them get back on track in 2015, we will continue to see growing dissatisfaction with EHRs and disenchantment with Meaningful Use."

When CMS issued its final rule in September, provider groups sent a letter to Health and Human Service Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell requesting additional time for hundreds of thousands of providers meet Stage 2 requirements. Provider groups have said that a shortened reporting period will positively affect program participation and policy outcomes.

American Medical Association President-elect Steven J. Stack, MD, also called on CMS to eliminate its "one-size-fits-all" approach to meeting MU goals.

"The AMA recently released a blueprint to outline ways to improve the Meaningful Use program, as well as a framework outlining eight priorities for more usable EHRs," Stack said.

"We believe the stringent pass/fail requirements for meeting Meaningful Use, combined with a tsunami of other overlapping regulations, are keeping physicians from participating in the Meaningful Use program."