In a statement to the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, the American Hospital Association again voiced concerns about meaningful use timelines, but pledged support of an Oct. 1 ICD-10 implementation date.
The AHA said hospitals need more flexibility with meaningful use to make progress. "On a policy level, the AHA wants to ensure that federal safety oversight for health IT is nimble, but sufficient to protect patient safety and ensure that hospitals and other providers are not exposed to liability from unsafe products," reads the statement.
The organization proposed three changes to meaningful use:
- Allow adequate time for providers to transition to stage 2 and shorten the reporting period to 90 days
- Remove requirements that hold hospitals accountable for the actions of others, such as the patient portal requirement that says a certain number of patients must use the technology
- Wait until more providers meet stage 2 before setting a start date or requirements for stage 3
In terms of ICD-10, the AHA urges Congress to maintain the Oct. 1 transition date, saying another delay would add costs to the system.
"Hospitals need a firm commitment from Congress and the administration that Oct. 1, 2015 is the transition date so that they can plan with confidence," according to the statement.
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