On April 24, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced plans to overhaul the Meaningful Use program by turning to a focus on interoperability.
Thus, it only makes sense that the agency is renaming the MU initiative “Promoting Interoperability.” The shift, CMS says, is a way to improve the exchange of health information and make it easier for patients to get their health records electronically.
Understanding EGPA: The Role of Eosinophils and Advancements in Treatment Options
FASENRA® (benralizumab) injection, for subcutaneous use, 30 mg is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA). FASENRA provides a treatment option for HCPs to consider when managing this challenging disease.
The change is part of a proposed rule that alters Medicare payment policies and rates under the Inpatient Prospective Payment System and the Long-Term Care Hospital Prospective Payment System.
“We seek to ensure the healthcare system puts patients first,” CMS Administrator Seema Verma said in a press release. “Today’s proposed rule demonstrates our commitment to patient access to high-quality care while removing outdated and redundant regulations on providers.”
This news comes less than two months after Verma touched on interoperability and unveiled the MyHealthEData initiative, a government-wide project aimed at giving patients more control over their health information, at HIMSS in Las Vegas.
Additionally, the proposed rule requires providers to use the 2015 Edition of Certified Electronic Health Record Technology beginning in 2019. It includes the use of application programming interfaces, or APIs.
Changes in Nurse Staffing Answer Clinician Demands
The ongoing nursing shortage facilitates high turnover rates since nurses know they won’t have difficulties finding new jobs. In order to retain and attract staff, it’s in a facility’s best interest to understand what nurses want.
It would also “eliminate a significant number of measures acute care hospitals are currently required to report and remove duplicate measures across the 5 hospital quality and value-based purchasing programs,” according to the press release. Overall, it would result in removing 19 measures and de-duplicating another 21.
Finally, CMS suggested changes to cut down on the number of hours providers spend on paperwork.
The agency is asking for feedback on the proposal. The deadline for submitting comments is June 25.
Naturally, industry organizations weighed in on the proposed rule. The American Hospital Association seemed generally pleased, aside from one factor. “We are disappointed, however, that the agency will require use of 2015 Edition Certified EHR Technology beginning in 2019,” AHA executive vice president Tom Nickels said in a statement.
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