Washington, DC (May 7, 2012) – HIMSS submitted comments to the Department of Health and Human Services in response to the two Notices of Proposed Rulemaking on the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs:  Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Electronic Health Record Incentive Program–Stage 2; and Health Information Technology: Standards, Implementation Specifications, and Certification Criteria for Electronic Health Record Technology, 2014 Edition; Revisions to the Permanent Certification Program for Health Information Technology.

“Since the inception of the HITECH provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), HIMSS has supported the concept of graduated complexity of Meaningful Use that recognizes the varying degrees of maturity of adoption and implementation of health IT that serve as the foundation for healthcare transformation,” said Carla Smith, HIMSS Executive Vice President.  “We appreciate the incredible commitment the Department has placed on engaging in a public dialogue and agree that the Meaningful Use program encourages standards-based collection, analysis, and exchange of health data in a safe and secure environment that can help providers, hospitals, and consumers improve care delivery for all Americans.”

Over the first year of the Meaningful Use Program, HIMSS has observed an increasing amount of resources being utilized to prepare Eligible Professionals (EPs), Eligible Hospitals (EHs), and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) for attestation.  As part of its HIMSS Analytics data collection on Meaningful Use activity, HIMSS has seen a 12 percent increase in hospital preparedness for Meaningful Use Stage 1 requirements.  The increase appears to be an affirmation of the impact of the Meaningful Use program, and organizations’ collective willingness to engage in the program as a foundation for improving the quality and cost effectiveness of care delivery in the U.S.

The HIMSS response to the Meaningful Use Stage 2 proposed rule provides support and constructive observations on the Objectives and Measures outlined by the government. To that end, HIMSS strongly suggests that the government incorporate a 90- to 180-day reporting period for Year 1 of Stage 2 in 2014.  As part of the preparation for the Stage 2 Final Rule, HIMSS is encouraging the Department to continue reviewing and reassessing the timeline to maximize the amount of time all EPs, EHs, CAHs, and vendors have to prepare for Meaningful Use Stage 2.

HIMSS also recommends that 2014 (the first year of the new certification criteria and CQMs) be limited to a 90- to 180-day reporting period and also recommends that the Department reconsider the proposal that providers who are in Stage 1 will be required to meet all of the criteria changes to Stage 1 by FY/CY 2014.  HIMSS also recognizes the areas in which its members agree with CMS and ONC proposed rules and provides support—notably, this includes support for the “Base” EHR concept, and for the extension of Meaningful Use Stage 1 for 2011 attesters.

The HIMSS comments also:
• Encourage alignment between federal and state quality reporting requirements.
• Emphasize that Quality Measures should be utilized only if the standard and specifications supporting the quality measure have been tested and verified.
• Encourage the utilization of mobile technologies to support patient engagement.
• Include several requests for additional clarity or definition.
• Address questions in the NPRM around accounting of disclosures and data portability.

For more information visit:
HIMSS Response to Meaningful Use Stage 2 NPRM
HIMSS Response to Standards, Implementation Specifications and Certification Criteria NPRM HIMSS Response to Proposed Certification Criteria Public Comment Template

About HIMSS

HIMSS is a cause-based, not-for-profit organization exclusively focused on providing global leadership for the optimal use of information technology (IT) and management systems for the betterment of healthcare. Founded 51 years ago, HIMSS and its related organizations are headquartered in Chicago with additional offices in the United States, Europe and Asia. HIMSS represents more than 44,000 individual members, of which more than two thirds work in healthcare provider, governmental and not-for-profit organizations. HIMSS also includes over 570 corporate members and more than 170 not-for-profit organizations that share our mission of transforming healthcare through the effective use of information technology and management systems. HIMSS frames and leads healthcare practices and public policy through its content expertise, professional development, research initiatives, and media vehicles designed to promote information and management systems’ contributions to improving the quality, safety, access, and cost-effectiveness of patient care. To learn more about HIMSS and to find out how to join us and our members in advancing our cause, please visit our website at www.himss.org.

BALTIMORE, MD – Tuesday, March 27^th, 2012 – Software Unlimited, Inc.’s premier offering, Medical Mastermind Practice Management, has received the federal government’s “meaningful use” stamp of approval by earning EHR Module Certification.

The designation officially deems the software capable of enabling providers to qualify for funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

Tested and certified under the Drummond Group’s Electronic Health Records Office of the National Coordinator Authorized Testing and Certification Body (ONC-ATCB) program, the software is 2011/2012 compliant in accordance with the criteria adopted by the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

“This certification is critical for our physicians to achieve meaningful use by helping meet key ONC criteria” says James R. Milligan, CEO of Software Unlimited, Inc. “This means our Healthcare providers can be secure in using Medical Mastermind as part of the solution to meeting full EMR attestation.  In combination with our certified EMR offering, our customers can be assured of receiving ARRA reimbursements after attesting to meaningful use.”

Medical Mastermind is certified for privacy and security criteria, which supports HIPAA, as well as a number of other ambulatory criteria such as smoking status and demographic information.

The Medical Mastermind Practice Management software qualifies as an “EHR Module” for compliance certification. This EHR Module is 2011/2012 compliant and has been certified by an ONC-ATCB in accordance with the applicable certification criteria adopted by the Secretary of Health and Human Services. This certification does not represent an endorsement by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services or guarantee the receipt of incentive payments.

Software Unlimited, Inc., Certified on March 8, 2012, Medical Mastermind version 15.12, ID: 03082012-1490-5, CQMs: 170.302 G, O-U, 170.304 C; Additional software used: TrueCrypt.

About Software Unlimited, Inc. 

Software Unlimited’s Medical Mastermind Practice Management software has been the software of choice for thousands of mid-Atlantic physicians, since 1984. Also offering EMR and Billing Solutions, SUI sells, implements, trains, customizes and supports all their solutions from their Baltimore, MD offices. For more information, visit www.suimd.com.

About Drummond Group  

Drummond Group Inc., the trusted software test lab, provides effective and efficient electronic health record (EHR) testing to healthcare information technology vendors and hospitals. As an Office of the National Coordinator Authorized Testing and Certification Body (ONC-ATCB), Drummond Group works closely with healthcare software vendors and hospitals to certify EHRs that are looking to qualify for incentive funds under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).  Drummond Group is approved to certify both complete and modular EHR for both ambulatory and inpatient.  Leveraging more than a decade’s worth of interoperability, conformance testing and certification experience in multiple industries, Drummond Group delivers what’s needed in healthcare: highly reliable and readily affordable software testing services. For more information, go to www.drummondgroup.com.

UPDATE 2-24-12: This afternoon, ONC released the proposed rule for ”Health Information Technology: Standards, Implementation Specifications, and Certification Criteria for Electronic Health Record Technology, 2014 Edition; Revisions to the Permanent Certification Program for Health Information Technology

HIMSS is pleased that the Department of Health and Human Services’ Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have published their proposed rule for Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record Incentive Program Stage 2 (Meaningful Use Stage 2); the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC) is expected to publish the associated Standards, Implementation Specifications, and Certification Criteria tomorrow. These are significant steps forward in transforming healthcare in the United States of America.

For many years now, HIMSS has championed the best use of information technology and management systems for the betterment of healthcare.  Since the inception of the HITECH provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), HIMSS has equipped stakeholders for increasingly sophisticated meaningful use of health information. To help providers and patients improve care delivery and health outcomes for all Americans, HIMSS members strongly encourage the federal government to continue promoting the adoption of EHRs through the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Program in support of the standards-based collection, analysis, and exchange of health data in a safe and secure environment.

The release of these regulations during the HIMSS12 Annual Conference and Exhibition gives attendees the opportunity to engage directly with CMS and ONC officials about the new rule. Both CMS and ONC have hosted interactive town hall sessions, and more than 80 HIMSS12 workshops, symposia, and general education sessions have focused on meaningful use.  Using social media and HIMSS.org, HIMSS staff have been posting – within hours – key takeaways from policymakers’ remarks.  HIMSS will be reviewing the proposed rule and posting summaries and analyses in the coming days.  Stay tuned to HIMSS’ Meaningful Use OneSource, where we expect to post substantive analyses beginning next week.

The Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs have already had an enormous impact on EHR adoption rates. Forty-three states have started their Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs; over 190,000 Eligible Professionals (EPs) and Eligible Hospitals (EHs) have registered for the Medicare and/or Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs; and more than $3 billion has been paid in incentive payments to EPs, EHs, and critical access hospitals (CAHs) across the country.

New HIMSS Analytics data, reported in the December 2011Summary of Meaningful Use Readiness, indicates that seven segments of hospitals show increased capability to achieve Stage 1 of meaningful use. The hospitals in these seven categories typically demonstrate IT adoption that outpaces their peers, a segment that also includes hospitals at Stage 6 or Stage 7 on the HIMSS Analytics Electronic Medical Record Adoption Model (EMRAM). Tremendous progress has been made toward improved patient care and efficiencies offered by health IT, and HIMSS is excited to work with our members to move into this next phase of transforming healthcare.

To give providers and vendors adequate time to meet the new requirements, release of the proposed regulations at this juncture meets a recommendation of HIMSS and other organizations that the final rule be released at least 18 months prior to enactment.

HIMSS looks forward to engaging our members and colleagues in the development of HIMSS Board of Directors-approved responses to the proposed regulations that provide practical, real world observations and recommendations.

Dr. Hua Chen has been notified that her $18,000 dollars in incentive funds is “locked for payment.” Dr. Chen said her Government Incentive Stimulus money should hit her bank account in about 6-8 weeks.

Physicians and other medical care providers may earn as much as $44,000 per provider over the next five years when qualifying for Meaningful Use of Electronic Health Records (EHR) technology as part of the health IT incentive program.

Dr. Chen complimented Mitochon Systems and their World-Class Client Services team for being there for her every step of the way, holding her hand throughout the process.

“I don’t know what I would have done without them,” said Dr. Chen. “Mitochon’s platform is easy to use, and you are up and running within minutes. I highly recommend the company and their team of committed professionals.”

Asked why she chose Mitochon’s FREE EHR, Dr. Chen said that “What really attracted me to the system was learning it was designed by a group of physicians for physicians. This was important to me, as they knew firsthand what I would be encountering as I moved into the digital health world.”

Dr. Andre Vovan, Mitochon’s founder and Chief Medical Officer, personally called to congratulate Dr. Chen and stated how delighted he is as a physician that Mitochon can support and enable MDs participating in the digital health movement, and assist them in qualifying for substantial Meaningful Use payments. “We congratulate Dr. Chen on her achievements, and are delighted that she chose to be a member of the Mitochon Community, as opposed to paying for a system or adopting systems that have not enabled physicians to qualify for payments yet,” stated Dr. Vovan

Dr. Hua is the first of many Mitochon subscribers that will use the First FREE Certified EHR system to achieve and attest Meaningful Use, enabling our users to benefit from significant ARRA Stimulus payments and avoid late stage payment penalties from Medicare.

Mitochon Systems was founded in 2006 by Dr. Andre Vovan, MD, MBA, FCCM, who is the director of a critical care department at a large California hospital. He created a system based on the free model because the cost of traditional EHR systems makes them unaffordable for many independent physicians. For information: 877-817-0902 or http://mitochonsystems.com/about/.-

Ann Arbor, Michigan, October 19, 2011 — The South East Michigan Health Information Exchange (SEMHIE) announced today that it has been validated for conformance and interoperability testing by the Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) and is now live on the Nationwide Health Information Network Exchange (NwHIN). SEMHIE joins a 20-member group of federal agencies and non-federal partners authorized to operate on NwHIN.

About University Bank

About Reliance Software Systems, Inc. (RelWare®)

CHICAGO–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Merge Healthcare (NASDAQ: MRGE), a leading provider of enterprise imaging and interoperability solutions, today announced Merge RIS v7.0 has received the federal government’s “Meaningful Use” stamp of approval, thus becoming the industry’s only major radiology information system (RIS) with complete electronic health record ambulatory certification.

In 2009, Congress enacted the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), which provided for $20 billion in funding for healthcare technology (referred to as the HITECH Act). Within that, more than $1.5 billion is estimated to be available to radiologists who use certified electronic health record technology in a meaningful way. However, options in radiology have been very limited to date, as current electronic health records are either not built specifically for radiology workflow, or they are modularly-certified products that require the radiologist to purchase additional applications to meet the remaining requirements, even if they are not used.

With Merge RIS v7.0, radiology providers can now utilize a single product for radiology-specific workflow to qualify for up to $44,000 in funding under the HITECH Act.

“We are thrilled to be leading the radiology market with complete EHR certification for our radiology information software,” said Jeff Surges, CEO of Merge Healthcare. “This certification means that the radiology industry has a new option for participating in the HITECH Act – without having to sacrifice radiology workflow. We have been able to learn from our large install base of radiology customers and build a solution that is custom made for their specific needs and workflow. At the end of the day, we’ve worked together to ensure our solution benefits both patients and providers.”

How Merge RIS v7.0 is Unique

Merge RIS v 7.0 integrates core Meaningful Use functionality and can capture all necessary and relevant patient information to meet the guidelines of Meaningful Use, without disrupting the traditional radiology workflow.

Functionality includes ePrescribing, enhanced reporting that enables physicians to automatically trend clinical data and report on Meaningful Use measures, new clinical decision support, the clinical exchange of health information through industry standard formats, and a patient portal that empowers patients to access their records at their convenience.

This new functionality was built natively within the intuitive, web-based Merge RIS so that any radiology practice can achieve Meaningful Use attestation in a manner that works for their specialty.

Merge RIS in Use

Regional Medical Imaging (RMI), a large outpatient radiology group in Michigan, has participated in the testing of Merge RIS v7.0, and is currently collecting the required data to attest to Meaningful Use and receive 2011 reimbursement.

“Meaningful Use is an important initiative that carries a significant reimbursement opportunity for our organization,” said Randy Hicks, MD, owner of Regional Medical Imaging (RMI). “Therefore it’s been imperative for us to work with an organization that understands our needs and can provide a solution that will seamlessly integrate within our existing applications. I continue to be impressed with Merge’s ability to build those kinds of solutions for imaging IT.”

This Complete EHR is 2011/2012 compliant and has been certified by Drummond Group Inc., an ONC-ATCB, in accordance with the applicable certification criteria adopted by the Secretary of Health and Human Services. This certification does not represent an endorsement by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services or guarantee the receipt of incentive payments.

Merge Healthcare, Merge RIS 7.0, certified on October 13, 2011. Certification ID: 10132011-1256-1, Clinical Quality Measures tested: NQF0013, NQF0024, NQF0028, NQF0031, NQF0038, NQF0041, NQF0052, NQF0062, NQF0387, NQF0421. No additional software used.

About Merge Healthcare

Merge Healthcare is a leading provider of enterprise imaging and interoperability solutions. Merge solutions facilitate the sharing of images to create a more effective and efficient electronic healthcare experience for patients and physicians. Merge provides enterprise imaging solutions for radiology, cardiology, orthopaedics and eye care; a suite of products for clinical trials; software for financial and pre-surgical management, and applications that fuel the largest modality vendors in the world. Merge’s products have been used by healthcare providers, vendors and researchers worldwide to improve patient care for more than 20 years. Additional information can be found at www.merge.com.

About Drummond Group

Drummond Group Inc., the trusted software test lab, provides effective and efficient electronic health record (EHR) testing to healthcare information technology vendors and hospitals. As an Office of the National Coordinator Authorized Testing and Certification Body (ONC-ATCB), Drummond Group works closely with healthcare software vendors and hospitals to certify EHRs that are looking to qualify for incentive funds under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Drummond Group is approved to certify both complete and modular EHR for both ambulatory and inpatient. Leveraging more than a decade’s worth of interoperability, conformance testing and certification experience in multiple industries, Drummond Group delivers what’s needed in healthcare: highly reliable and readily affordable software testing services. For more information, go to www.drummondgroup.com.

NJ-HITEC, the Regional Extension Center (REC) in New Jersey, selected Medical Informatics Engineering (MIE) as a participating vendor to help healthcare provider’s transition to electronic health records. Last month, MIE helped Stephen Thomsen, M.D. of Hudson Essex Nephrology, become the first physician to attest for meaningful use in Hudson County and in Union City, New Jersey….a big accomplishment for the state.

Now aligned with HIMSS Analytics™ Stage 6 and Stage 7 awards, the HIMSS® Davies Awards of Excellence rank as the highest level of achievement for EHR excellence that HIMSS offers.  The changes impact the award categories, criteria and the application process.

Practice Fusion announced today that and estimated 5,000 medical providers will work toward meaningful use attestation in 2011 using their free, web-based EHR system. More than $90M in EHR incentives in 2011 alone will be accessible to eligible medical providers in the Practice Fusion community.

According to the latest CMS reports, nearly 4,500 providers received Medicare and Medicaid EHR incentive payments in the first seven months of 2011. Practice Fusion’s community of EHR users has the potential to significantly increase activity in the Meaningful Use program over the next three months.

San Francisco – September 13, 2011 – Practice Fusion now represents the largest community of US doctors working towards Meaningful Use attestation in 2011. With the release of certified features to the Electronic Health Record (EHR) system on Monday night, every user on Practice Fusion’s free web-based EHR today has the tools needed to immediately begin Meaningful Use and earn up to $18,000 in 2011.

Key Facts:

• Practice Fusion forecasts that 5,000 eligible providers will use the free EHR to work toward 2011 Meaningful Use incentives; adding up to a potential cumulative incentive of $90 million.
• Through July, only 4,481 eligible providers have received 2011 EHR incentives from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) by using any of the 758 certified EHR systems on the market.
• Practice Fusion lets doctors keep their entire Medicare or Medicaid incentive. The company does not take a cut of incentives and does not charge users.
• The October 1 deadline to start Meaningful Use in 2011 is looming. Practice Fusion expects a surge in demand for EHR technology as the 2011 cut-off approaches.
• With a Live in Five® set-up guarantee, Practice Fusion is the only EHR where doctors can sign up today and immediately start 90-day attestation for 2011 incentives.
• More information on Meaningful Use can be found at www.practicefusion.com/44k

“Practice Fusion has democratized Meaningful Use,” said Ryan Howard, CEO and Founder of Practice Fusion. “Starting today, every eligible provider has a shot at 2011 incentives with no cost and no risk through Practice Fusion. If you’re a solo practitioner, part of a large practice, a house call doctor or working in a non-profit clinic, you can get $18,000+ and participate in Washington’s vision for health technology transformation.”

According to the latest CMS reports, nearly 4,500 providers received Medicare and Medicaid EHR incentive payments in the first seven months of 2011. Practice Fusion’s community of EHR users has the potential to significantly increase activity in the Meaningful Use program over the next three months.

Meaningful Use incentives are a small part of the US Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) overall investment in health technology through the 2009 Economic Stimulus Plan (ARRA). Earlier this year, the National Coordinator for Health IT, Farzad Mostashari, explained how “the sum total of Meaningful Use” is to save lives, prevent medical errors, coordinate care and empower patients.

About Practice Fusion

Practice Fusion provides a free, web-based Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system to physicians. With charting, scheduling, e-prescribing, billing, lab integrations, referral letters, Meaningful Use certification, unlimited support and a Personal Health Record for patients, Practice Fusion’s EMR addresses the complex needs of today’s healthcare providers and disrupts the health IT status quo. Practice Fusion is the fastest growing EMR community in the country with more than 100,000 users serving 18 million patients. The company closed a $23 million Series B round of financing led by Founders Fund in April 2011. For more information about Practice Fusion, please visit practicefusion.com.

CHICAGO–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Merge Healthcare (NASDAQ: MRGE), a leading provider of enterprise imaging and interoperability solutions has received the federal government’s “Meaningful Use” stamp of approval by earning complete EHR Ambulatory certification from Drummond Group’s Electronic Health Records Office of the National Coordinator Authorized Testing and Certification Body (ONC-ATCB) program.

This certification means Merge OrthoEMR ensures that providers can qualify for funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Tested and certified under the Drummond Group’s EHR ONC-ATCB program, Merge OrthoEMR is 2011/2012 compliant and meets the criteria adopted by the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

In addition, Merge OrthoEMR has been certified to electronically generate and transmit prescriptions.

“Receiving complete EHR certification, including electronic prescribing, validates that providers can now leverage Merge OrthoEMR to make significant improvements in clinical care delivery and to achieve Meaningful Use thereby qualifying for incentive funds under ARRA,” said Jeff Surges, CEO of Merge Healthcare.

“The quality of care and efficiency benefits that come with computerization and Meaningful Use standardization are going to make a significant difference in the overall patient experience,” continued Surges. “We are proud that our solutions will be at the cutting edge of the positive change that awaits our industry.”

Merge OrthoEMR v4.0, which meets the requirements for complete EHR Ambulatory certification, allows providers to better utilize resources though electronic prescription orders, lab interfacing and a patient portal resulting in improved communication between users and patients.

“While most software solutions designed for replacing paper charts required users to change the way they work – ultimately decreasing productivity – Merge OrthoEMR does not,” said Surges. “Merge OrthoEMR was developed around specific criteria to improve workflow and efficiency, thus allowing orthopaedic providers to see more patients.”

Merge OrthoEMR is 2011/2012 compliant and has been certified by Drummond Group, an ONC-ATCB approved to certify any complete or modular EHR both ambulatory and inpatient, in accordance with the applicable certification criteria adopted by the Secretary of Health and Human Services. This certification does not represent an endorsement by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services or guarantee the receipt of incentive payments.

Merge Healthcare, August 18, 2011, Merge OrthoEMR version 4.0, Certificate ID 08182011-1203-1, Clinical Quality Measures tested: NQF0013, NQF0024, NQF0027, NQF0028, NQF0038, NQF0041, NQF0052, NQF0061, NQF0421. No additional software used.

About Merge Healthcare

Merge Healthcare is the leading provider of enterprise imaging and interoperability solutions. Merge solutions facilitate the sharing of images to create a more effective and efficient electronic healthcare experience for patients and physicians. Merge provides enterprise imaging solutions for radiology, cardiology and orthopaedics; a suite of products for clinical trials; software for financial and pre-surgical management, and applications that fuel the largest modality vendors in the world. Merge’s products have been used by healthcare providers, vendors and researchers worldwide to improve patient care for more than 20 years. Additional information can be found at www.merge.com.

About Drummond Group

Drummond Group Inc., the trusted software test lab, provides effective and efficient electronic health record (EHR) testing to healthcare information technology vendors and hospitals. As an Office of the National Coordinator Authorized Testing and Certification Body (ONC-ATCB), Drummond Group works closely with healthcare software vendors and hospitals to certify EHRs that are looking to qualify for incentive funds under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Drummond Group is approved to certify both complete and modular EHR for both ambulatory and inpatient. Leveraging more than a decade’s worth of interoperability, conformance testing and certification experience in multiple industries, Drummond Group delivers what’s needed in healthcare: highly reliable and readily affordable software testing services. For more information, go to www.drummondgroup.com.