Stage 2 Deadlines and How to Comment

On March 7, 2012, Meaningful Use Stage 2 requirements were released for public comment. The finalized requirements are expected this summer after the 60-day comment period expires.

Two sets of rules are open to public input. First, the “Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record Incentive Program Stage 2.” The second rule applies to “Implementation Specifications and Certification Criteria for Electronic Health Record Technology.”

To avoid reimbursement reductions from Medicare and Medicaid, Hospitals must implement Stage 2-required Syndromic Surveillance by October 1, 2013; Eligible Professionals must implement surveillance by January 1, 2014.

To note your opinion, visit regulations.gov, a website decided to sharing and soliciting commentary on government documents. Follow the “Submit a Comment” instructions to provide your input.

For more information on the topic of Syndromic Surveillance, please read Dr. Andy Walsh’s article in this newsletter. In “Feedback on the Draft Guidelines for Inpatient and Ambulatory Clinical Care Data,” Dr. Walsh provides insight on the ISDS guidelines and suggests three changes that he believes will help to deliver on the opportunities that Syndromic Surveillance presents to public health and medical professionals.

About Health Monitoring Systems, Inc.

The company’s EpiCenter™ system is a first of its kind community health surveillance system for public health. HMS collects and analyzes data from more than 500 healthcare facilities across the country.