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  5. New Stage 2 Core and Menu Objectives for EPs

Step 5: Achieve Meaningful Use

  1. Assess Your Practice Readiness
  2. Plan Your Approach
  3. Select or Upgrade to a Certified EHR
  4. Conduct Training & Implement an EHR System
  5. Achieve Meaningful Use
  6. Continue Quality Improvement

New Stage 2 Core and Menu Objectives for EPs

On August 23, 2012, CMS announced a final rule to govern Stage 2 of the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs. The rule specifies the Stage 2 criteria that eligible professionals (EPs), eligible hospitals, and critical access hospitals (CAHs) must meet in order to continue to participate in the EHR Incentive Programs. Learn more about the CMS Stage 2 final rule.

Within the MU Stage 1 dashboard, each objective now highlights how each core or menu objective and measure has changed within the Stage 2 final rule.

In addition, six new objectives were added within the Stage 2 final rule; they are summarized below for quick reference. Also see Stage 1 vs. Stage 2 Comparison Table for Eligible Professionals.

CMS added one new core objective for EPs including:

  • Secure Messages

    Objective:

    Use secure electronic messaging to communicate with patients on relevant health information

    Measure:

    A secure message was sent using the electronic messaging function of Certified EHR Technology by more than 5% of unique patients seen during the EHR reporting period

    Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services [PDF - 256 KB]

CMS added five new menu objectives for EPs including:

  • Progress Notes

    Objective:

    Record electronic notes in patient records

    Measure:

    Enter at least one electronic progress note created, edited and signed by an EP for more than 30% of unique patients

    Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services [PDF - 256 KB]

  • Imaging Results

    Objective:

    Imaging results consisting of the image itself and any explanation or other accompanying information are accessible through CEHRT

    Measure:

    More than 10% of all scans and tests whose result is an image ordered by the EP for patients seen during the EHR reporting period are incorporated into or accessible through Certified EHR Technology

    Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services [PDF - 256 KB]

  • Family History

    Objective:

    Record patient family health history as structured data

    Measure:

    More than 20% of all unique patients seen by the EP during the EHR reporting period have a structured data entry for one or more first-degree relatives or an indication that family health history has been reviewed

    Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services [PDF - 256 KB]

  • Cancer

    Objective:

    Capability to identify and report cancer cases to a State cancer registry, except where prohibited, and in accordance with applicable law and practice

    Measure:

    Successful ongoing submission of cancer case information from Certified EHR Technology to a cancer registry for the entire EHR reporting period

    Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services [PDF - 256 KB]

  • Specialized Registry

    Objective:

    Capability to identify and report specific cases to a specialized registry (other than a cancer registry), except where prohibited, and in accordance with applicable law and practice

    Measure:

    Successful ongoing submission of specific case information from Certified EHR Technology to a specialized registry for the entire EHR reporting period

    Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services [PDF - 256 KB]