New data from HIMSS Analytics indicates that 44 percent of hospital respondents fall within the "Likely" or "Most Likely" categories for meeting Stage 1 of meaningful use.
Compliance with the Stage 1 meaningful use criteria are an essential prerequisite for a provider to qualifier for EHR incentives under HITECH. Based on the new HIMSS Analytics data:
•44 percent of respondents fall within the "Likely" or "Most Likely" categories associated with achieving Stage 1 of meaningful use, as defined by HIMSS Analytics.
•Within this 44 percent of respondents, 58 percent of these respondents indicated they expect to achieve all meaningful use core measures by May 2012, which is the end of the period covered by the survey.
•Of the 999 hospitals that responded to the survey since May 2010, 25 percent already have the capability to meet 10 or more of the process core measures and at least five of the menu items.
•Of the 442 hospitals that responded to the survey since finalization of the criteria, 27 percent expect to achieve all 14 core measures and at least five of the menu measures by May, 2012 entitling them to the meaningful use incentives.
HIMSS Analytics expects an increase in these percentages as the deadline approaches for full compliance of Stage 1 of meaningful use. For hospitals to receive the full EHR incentive, through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' EHR Incentives Program, they must be meaningful users of certified technology by FFY2013.
HIMSS Analytics now has 24 questions on the Stage 1 Process Meaningful Use criteria included in its annual survey of more than 5,000 U.S., non-governmental hospitals. HIMSS Analytics began collecting data in May 2010. Following the finalization of the Stage 1 measures in July, 2010, four additional questions were added to the survey. Hospitals are asked to indicate if they currently have the capability to achieve the 14 core measures and the 10 menu measures. If they do not currently have the capability to achieve a measure, they are asked what timeframe they expect to have the capability.
"As expected, the data indicates that hospitals well positioned to achieve the meaningful use criteria demonstrate high levels of EMR adoption as reflected in the HIMSS Analytics EMR Adoption Model. Further analysis of the data will be explored including EMR adoption as it correlates to meaningful use," said John P. Hoyt, FACHE, FHIMSS, Executive Vice President, Organizational Services, for HIMSS.
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