Meaningful Use Information Center

In 2009, the U.S. federal government signed into law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) as part of the stimulus package to help improve the economy. Part of the ARRA Act, the Health Information Technology Act, known as the HITECH Act, provides funding to eligible providers for the adoption of the electronic health record (EHR).

HITECH ACT Goals:

• improve the quality, safety, cost, and efficiency of health care
• engage patients and their families in their own healthcare
• reduce health disparities
• improve care coordination
• improve population and public health
• ensure privacy and security for personal health information

EHR Incentive Program Administration

The HITECH Act is administered by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Most dentists who qualify for incentive payments will qualify under the Medicaid program, however there are a few specialty dentists that will qualify under the Medicare Program. (See Notable Differences between the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs)

Dental-Specific EHR Incentive Program

There are no dental specific criteria in Stage I or Stage II of the program and there is not a vendor specific certification for dental. Vendors are required to meet ALL of the certification requirements regardless of whether their customers use them all.

Henry Schein and CMS

Henry Schein has communicated closely with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) since the inception of the EHR Incentive Program to clarify how it affects our customers. We are pleased to have formed a tight-knit relationship with their organization to ensure that the information we provide is completely accurate and the solutions that we provide meet their goals and standards.

Below is a list of terms that you may hear in association with this important legislation. Simply click on the link to learn more about each term!

• Stimulus Package
• ARRA (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act)
• EHR Incentive Program
• HITECH Act (Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health)
• CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services)
• ONC (Office of National Coordinator of Health Information Technology)
• EP (Eligible Professionals)
• CCHIT (Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology)
• A/I/U – Adopt, Implement or Upgrade

Eligible Professionals

Healthcare professionals and hospitals must meet the eligibility criteria defined by law in order to receive incentive payments for implementing Electronic Health Records programs. Under the Medicaid Program, an “eligible professional”:

• Provides at least 30% of their services to Medicaid patients
• Meets the specific stage and yearly criteria.

Flow Chart – Determine Eligibility for Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record (EHR)
Incentive Programs

Source: Eligibility Requirements for Professionals under the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program

What is “Meaningful Use?”

• The use of certified EHR in a meaningful manner (e.g. ePrescribing)
• The use of certified EHR technology for electronic exchange of health information to improve quality of care
• Use of certified EHR technology to submit clinical quality measures (CQM) and other such measures selected by the Secretary of Health and Human Services

Stage I Meaningful Use Criteria

Stage I only requires an EP to meet Meaningful Use in the secondyear. Year I requires an eligible provider to simply adopt, implement or upgrade to a certified EHR system. The Meaningful Use requirements for Stage I Year II include:

• 15 core objectives
• Choose 5 of 10 objectives from a menu set
• 6 Clinical Quality Measures (3 core or alternative core and 3 out of 38 from menu set)

Source: Meaningful Use Requirements

Stage II Meaningful Use Criteria

The ONC released proposed rules for Stage II criteria in early 2012. It is projected that the Stage II criteria will be determined by the middle of 2012.

Yearly Criteria, Dentrix Enterprise Solution and Potential Incentive Payment

The criteria for an eligible professional to receive EHR incentive payments change as the EHR Incentive Program progresses. The chart below indicates the criteria and potential payment for each stage. In addition, we’ve indicated the Dentrix Enterprise solution for your organization to achieve each of the payments.

* Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Program Basics

Certified EHR Technology

The Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs require the use of certified EHR technology. Standards, implementation specifications, and certification criteria for EHR technology have been adopted by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. You can find a list of Certified EHR Technology on the Certified Health IT Product List.

For more information about Certified EHR Technology, visit the CMS website.

If you meet the Medicaid eligible professional criteria and the stage and year requirements, you must register and attest in order to receive payment. CMS has provided a Registration User Guide that we recommend for your review. However, the steps are simple.

1. Make sure you're eligible for the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program. View eligibility guidelines at the Eligibility page.
2. Login to the CMS System
3. Register for the Medicare and/or Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs through CMS.*
   1. To obtain your Certification ID number when filling out your incentive form, go to the CMS website http://onc-chpl.force.com/ehrcert
   2. Click the Ambulatory Practice button at the bottom
   3. Search for Dentrix Enterprise
   4. Click "Add to Cart"
   5. Click "Get CMS EHR Certification ID" (button is within box)
      PLEASE NOTE! Each CMS EHR Certification ID is unique and you must obtain your own by following the steps above.
4. Apply with your state Medicaid governing organization. Choose your state here.
5. Attest for the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program through your individual state. Please note—you will not attest for the Medicaid Incentive Program through the CMS website.

A Registration User Guide can be found at https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Legislation/EHRIncentivePrograms/Downloads/EHRMedicaidEP_RegistrationUserGuide.pdf.

May 9, 2013	Stage 1 of the Medicare & Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs for Eligible Professionals: First in a Series
March 13, 2013	New EHR Meaningful Use FAQs from CMS
January 22, 2013	Some Stage 1 Meaningful Use Changes Effective Now
December 12, 2012	Comments Sought on Privacy/Security of Stage 3 Certified EHRs
November 13, 2012	CMS Releases Stage 2 Meaningful Use Specification Sheets with Details on Each Measure
November 9, 2012	Meaningful Use Stage 3 Recommendations Released for Public Comment
November 9, 2012	Announcing the 2014 Meaningful Use Objectives Quick Reference Grids
October 26, 2012	Clinical Quality Measures for 2014 posted on CMS Web Site
October 24, 2012	Meaningful Use Auditors Seeking Obvious Targets
August 31, 2012	CMS Gives Guidance on Medicaid Stage 2 Changes
August 21, 2012	An Introduction to the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program for Medical Professionals (CMS Website)
May 1, 2012	Pam Reece, Director of Enterprise and Specialty Divisions for Henry Schein and Bill Nixon, National Sales Manager for Dentrix Enterprise discuss the facts and myths surrounding Dental EHR and Meaningful Use