NRHA Submits Comment Letter on CMS First Stage Meaningful Use Guidelines
The NRHA submitted the following comments to CMS regarding its proposed guidelines for the first stage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) electronic health record (EHR) incentive payment program. The proposed rule is the first in a series of CMS guidelines relating to ARRA's Meaningful Use standards. While the NRHA believes widespread adoption of EHR is a key component to fixing many of rural America's current health barriers, we also have significant concerns with a number of the proposed rule's provisions.
The rule, for instance, proposes a one-size-fits-all approach for hospitals and providers in its Meaningful Use achievability standards, regardless of size or geographic location. This, therefore, means that small rural providers with limited resources and staff will be held to the same guidelines as their large urban counterparts.
Please click here for the NRHA's full comment letter.
Comments are due Monday, March 15, 2010 (TODAY) at 5 pm. To submit your own comments, follow the steps below:
Instructions on Submitting Comments to The CMS Proposed Rule for Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record Incentives (Comments Due March 15, 2010)
Submitting Electronically:
Go to www.regulations.gov
Click on "Submit a Comment"
From the drop down menu under "select document type," choose "proposed rules."
In the "Enter Keyword or ID" field, place the proposed rule's reference number (CMS-0033-P) and click the "Search" button.
The search results should bring up only one result, which will say "Medicare and Medicaid Programs: Electronic Health Record Incentive Program"
On the far right Click on "Submit a Comment"
On the next page, fill in the requested name/organization information on the left, and either submit the text of your comments in the space given on the right, or click the "Browse" button to attach a file.
When you are finished, you may preview your comments before submitting, and click on "Submit."
