BREAKING: CMS issues draft Stage 3 rules for EHR incentive program

CMS issued regulations on Friday for the third and final stage of the Federal incentive program, which requires doctors and hospitals to adopt and meaningfully use Electronic Health Records (EHRs).

With some exceptions, hospitals, physicians and other eligible professionals would be expected to conform to the rules (PDF) by 2018.

Separate regulations, proposed by HHS’ Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, would overhaul the certification program (PDF) for healthcare information technology, which is intended to give healthcare providers certainty that the software they buy can perform the functions required under the Meaningful Use program.

Previously, the certification program mostly tested software that was meant to be used with the EHR incentive program. Now, however, it can support “various care and practice settings.” The change addresses criticism that the incentive program, adopted under the 2009 stimulus law, ignores certain types of care, such as long-term care and behavioral health.

In a statement, Dr. Karen DeSalvo, Acting Assistant Secretary for Health, touted the rules as a step towards an interoperable healthcare system.

Comments on the proposals are due May 29.