The WSJ health blog wrote an interesting article a week or so ago that describe the EMR stimulus as “Too Much, Too Soon” Here’s an excerpt of the article:

At issue are the grants available under the stimulus bill to doctors and hospitals showing “meaningful use” of electronic health records. Early signs are that meeting that “meaningful use” standard will be tough, with about 24 requirements by 2011, Politico says. (A final rule is expected this month.)

It’s tough for doctors’ offices and hospitals to fully digitize their operations in that short period, and not clear that early returns on systems allowing such things as digitally transmitted prescriptions or patient access to electronic records will show gains in either costs or quality of care, Politico says. Suggestions include pushing back the deadline or, as one HHS official says, a partial credit system.

Here’s the link to the Politico article they mention.

Of course, my question is, are these comments “Too Little, Too Late” for HHS and the government to be able to do anything about changing the EMR stimulus plans around meaningful use and certified EHR?