It is affirmative that healthcare IT is being driven through policies and reimbursement incentives. Health information technology presents numerous opportunities for improving and transforming healthcare. Currently, healthcare uses information technology to support all of its core functions ( Wells, 2007 ). Providentially, the use of technology in healthcare facilities reduces human errors, improves clinical outcomes and practice efficiencies, facilitates care coordination, and tracks data, which can be transformed into a powerful decision-making tool ( Wells, 2007 ). However commendable, the adoption of technology in the health care is characterized by random failures and glitches ( Wells, 2007 ). This notwithstanding, the benefits of embracing technology to support healthcare functions outweigh its downsides. The recent introduction of Medicare Access and Chip Reauthorization Act (MACRA) allowed for a smooth transitioning of the Medical Medicare HER incentive program to a new merit-based incentive payment system (MIPS). Meaningful use criterion has transformed the healthcare system, allowing for improved services and coordinated working and should be maintained, therefore, and hospitals urged to shift to the merit-based incentive payment system
The Impact of Meaningful Use
Meaningful use is a term that defines the minimum standards set by the United States for health care electronic health records (EHR), whereas the government has earmarked data to be shared with patients in a clinical setting and the depth of information that is to be released to patients by healthcare providers. Therefore, meaningful use is important because the restrictions pronounced by the government safeguards crucial data that is critical to advancing patient care.
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The impact of meaningful use can be understood by reflecting upon the opinions of physicians regarding the perceived and realized impacts of meaningful use. In an empirical study conducted by Emani et al. (2014 ), featuring 1797 physicians preparing to qualify for the incentive programs, 967 responded in an overall response rate of 23 percent, 27 percent, and 54 percent. 23 percent of the respondents confirmed that meaningful use of the electronic health record system could help improve the care they offer and could improve the overall quality of care. 27 percent believed that meaningful use will also fashion them with data that could be transformed into meaningful information (Emani et al., 2014). Notably, medical specialists seemed to favor the system more that surgical specialists. In recommendation, the government should consider adopting legislation that will improve the physicians’ perception of meaningful use of the HER incentive program.
Shift to the Merit-based Incentive Payment System
The merit-based incentive payment system replaced the flawed sustainable growth rate (SGR) as a two-track Quality Payment Program (QPP) that campaigns for value-based payment model. Commendably, the merit-based incentive payment system (MIPS) enhances quality performances in hospitals ( Rathi & McWilliams, 2019 ). Particularly, contemporary hospitals need to shift to MIPS, but must first respond to the requirement prepared for Centers of Medicare that intend to adopt the system. Adopting the new merit-based incentive payment system allows hospitals to access data on three essential functions of performance systems. With the system, organization will be able to interact with meaningful use, from which they can derive physician quality reports, and further use the value-based Modifier (VBM) to improve their overall performance.
Lastly, interested and qualified entities intend on applying for merit-based incentive payment system must also understand of the three exclusions for MIPS eligibility. These exclusions include practitioners that practice in an APM that suffices as MACRA, those with low volume threshold, and those that have been newly registered. All qualified clinicians must, therefore, prepare to apply for MIPS to boost the quality of their services.
References
Emani, S., Ting, D. Y., Healey, M., Lipsitz, S. R., Karson, A. S., Einbinder, J. Surik, .V, & Bates, D. W. (2014). Physician beliefs about the impact of meaningful use of the EHR: A cross-sectional study. Applied Clinical Informatics , 5 (3), 789. https://dx.doi.org/10.4338%2FACI-2014-05-RA-0050 .
Rathi, V. K., & McWilliams, J. M. (2019). First-year report cards from the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS): What will be learned and what next?. Jama , 321 (12), 1157-1158.
Wells, L. (2007). Role of information technology in evidence based medicine: Advantages and limitations. Internet J. Healthc. Admin , 4 (2). https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/7442/4ffe31698f1a92330c5a578f501c4e8b57b4.pdf .
