Everyone that lives and breathes EMR and meaningful use has been seeing the people calling for meaningful use Stage 2. Jim Tate posted on HITECH Answers some new proposed timing options for meaningful use stage 2 that came out of the HIT Policy Committee and meaningful use workgroup. Of course, this committee is just a committee and just makes recommendations, but most of their recommendations have been taken.
Here’s Jim Tate’s summary of the MU stage 2 delay:
It is now being fully recognized that the move from entry level Stage 1 to Stage 2 will not be simple small step. Stage 1 was designed to facilitate buy in from vendors, EPs and EHs. Stage 2 will be where it gets real and the present timeline is simply not sufficient. The MU Workgroup has proposed several possible timing options to the current plan. All signs point to the creation of more elbow room in Stage 1.
On Jim’s post, he also has the chart he posted that showed the various meaningful use stage 2 timing options. Looks like meaningful use stage 2 is in for a delay.
[…] It’s the day many have been waiting for. The first checks arrive for those showing meaningful use of a certified EHR (Medicaid had sent some EHR Stimulus checks previously). Yes, the government really is going to pay out the money. Yes, people really are getting paid. In fact, it seems that they’ve pretty much stuck to their schedule for meaningful use stage 1 and paying out the first EHR stimulus checks. Props to the people at CMS and ONC for being able to stick to that schedule (even if meaningful use stage 2 might be delayed). […]