Meaningful Use Quality Measures May Be Meaningless

NQF responded to a request for comment saying the subject is "complex terrain," but that they've taken steps to endorse and approve e-specifications. "We agree with AHA that this is a learning process— with so much evolving at once— so we must tread deliberately, but carefully, into implementation."

"NQF agrees with AHA on the need for testing of eMeasures. Testing by measure developers is a critical step to ensure the measures can produce the intended result running on an electronic platform."

Hospitals Question Usability, Point to Inconsistencies
Unfortunately, the problems persist. In a 68-page letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services April 30, AHA executive vice president Rick Pollack pleaded for a delay in proposed rules for the Meaningful Use Stage 2 incentive payments because of all these problems.

"'We have heard from many members hospitals/CAHs (critical access hospitals) that all stakeholders – measure developers, the National Quality Forum, CMS, vendors and providers – need much more time to get the process right."