Meaningful Use Stage 3 is scheduled to start as early as 2017, but now it looks like it may not happen at all.
Acting CMS Administrator Andy Slavitt dropped this news — in some ways a bombshell, but in other ways not much of a surprise — Monday at the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference in San Francisco.
Slavitt tweeted the following, referencing the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act, the “doc fix” legislation that passed last year:
Market Trends to Watch for Health Systems and Their Specialty Pharmacies
The future looks bright for the integrated specialty pharmacy model – for health systems, providers, and most importantly, for patients.
In 2016, MU as it has existed– with MACRA– will now be effectively over and replaced with something better #JPM16
— Andy Slavitt 🇺🇦 (@ASlavitt) January 12, 2016
He followed up Tuesday with this series of tweets:
(1/5) Four themes guiding MACRA implementation on tech post-MU. #healthIT
— Andy Slavitt 🇺🇦 (@ASlavitt) January 12, 2016
Transforming Patient Care: The Role of AI-Powered Assistants
The progress in artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping patient care, across various dimensions, from facilitating faster discharge to curating treatment plans and suggesting lifestyle changes.
(2/5) Move away from rewarding USE of tech towards outcomes #healthIT
— Andy Slavitt 🇺🇦 (@ASlavitt) January 12, 2016
(3/5) Allow docs to customize goals around THEIR practices so user-centered tech can be developed #healthIT
— Andy Slavitt 🇺🇦 (@ASlavitt) January 12, 2016
(4/5) Level the tech playing field with open APIs to allow apps, analytic tools, plug ins and reduce EHR lock #healthIT
— Andy Slavitt 🇺🇦 (@ASlavitt) January 12, 2016
(5/5) Interoperability that builds on use cases coming from physicians and patients and fights data blocking #healthIT
— Andy Slavitt 🇺🇦 (@ASlavitt) January 12, 2016
In his talk at J.P. Morgan, Slavitt reportedly said to circle March 25 as the date CMS would be providing more details on future health IT incentive programs that would focus on patient outcomes rather than technology usage.
“We have to get the hearts and minds of physicians back. I think we’ve lost them,” Slavitt said, according to Family Practice News.
“As any physician will tell you, physician burden and frustration levels are real. Programs that are designed to improve often distract. Done poorly, measures are divorced from how physicians practice and add to the cynicism that the people who build these programs just don’t get it,” Slavitt continued.
He also had some unkind words for anyone suspected of information blocking. “We’re deadly serious about interoperability. Technology companies that look for ways to practice data blocking in opposition to new regulations will find that it will not be tolerated,” Slavitt is quoted as saying.