MU Stage 2 Final Rule Elicits Few Cheers

CHIME is more enthusiastic about the CQM changes.

Smith says that for CHIME members the CQMs for MU Stage 1 "were very problematic" with hospitals and physicians unable to able to report on CQMs important to them because CQMs "were dictated in the beginning based on what the vendor system could do."

The final rule for Stage 2 provides more flexibility in terms of CQM selection and reduces the reporting burden. "It is definitely a step in the right direction," he says.

There is concern among some stakeholders regarding the view-transmit-download provision, which requires that 5% of the unique patients seen by an eligible professional must actually electronically download or transmit their healthcare information.

"The basic concern is that providers will be on the hook for delivering something over which they have very little control," explains Smith. He says CHIME wanted providers to have the capability for view-transmit-download without the requirement that it be used by a certain number of patients.