AMA: Final meaningful use rule improved, but still lacking

by: Grant Huang Jul 21, 2010

The AMA thinks that meaningful use of an electronic health record (EHR) system will be easier to achieve thanks to changes made in the final rule, but says it's not enough. "Challenges still remain that will make it difficult for physicians to meet the requirements - especially physicians in solo and small practices," said AMA Board Member Steven J. Stack, MD, in a prepared statement.

While the group praised some of the changes -- such as physician choice in which meaningful use criteria they'll meet, lower thresholds for mandatory criteria -- there's still two key problems the AMA still has.

First, no EHR currently on the market can fully meet meaningful use, which isn't surprising given that vendors didn't have access to the final rule before its July 13 release. That means vendors need time to create or update EHR packages so they are capable of meeting the final rule's criteria. That time means less time for practices to implement an EHR and meet the criteria, the AMA believes.
Second, even slashing the number of required criteria from 25 to 20, and dropping thresholds on many of the remaining 20, isn't enough for small and solo-doctor practices, the AMA says.

For more on reactions and analysis from top physician groups, stay tuned for a full story in the coming issue of Part B News.

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