Meaningful Use: A Comprehensive Guide – Introduction

Outdated as of May 2021.

This article is outdated. Please find our updated resource that explains the current MACRA / MIPS / Meaningful Use regulations. 

Trying to understand the CMS’s EHR Incentive Program and its requirements can be an overwhelming task. Some people may wonder, “Why should I care about meeting Meaningful Use? Are the penalties for meeting the measures that bad?”

The answers are that it is in your best interest to meet Meaningful Use (MU) requirements as early as possible. Almost 209,000 eligible providers will be receiving Medicare payment cuts for not meeting MU, down from 257,000 previously. The eligible provider penalties range from less than $1,000 to $10,000, while the penalties for eligible hospitals are much higher. Vice President of Governmental Affairs at the American College of Physicians Shari Erickson says that although the average penalties may not be severe, “the number of physicians not meeting Meaningful Use requirements is concerning, particularly given that the program increases in complexity and percentage of payment at risk for (future) performance years.” Thus, for incentive payments and a more equipped practice, it is in your best interest to know the ins and outs of Meaningful Use so you can attest successfully, whether it is your first time reporting or you want to make sure you’re ready to attest proficiently again.

While you can read the latest full report on the Federal Register, this three part article series about Meaningful Use outlines the key components of the incentive program and will help keep eligible providers and hospitals informed and ready to successfully attest.

View the complete Meaningful Use series here:

Bridge Patient Portal is an enterprise platform that provides a superior user experience for healthcare organizations and patients. Bridge’s patient portal truly entices users to access health data, which improves patient-physician collaboration, care outcomes and caregiver profitability. To learn more about how our robust, HIPAA-compliant system can help you meet Meaningful Use requirements visit our website or call (866) 838-9455.

Blake Rodocker
Blake Rodocker

Director Of Business Development Blake joined Bridge Patient Portal in 2016 after transferring from our parent company, Medical Web Experts. With over 10 years of sales and management experience, Blake is a results-driven professional, passionate about driving collaboration with clients, partners, and internal teams. Throughout his time at Bridge Patient Portal, Blake has demonstrated his versatility and dedication by actively collaborating with various departments within the organization, streamlining processes, and optimizing efficiency. Blake studied business administration at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, British Columbia, and completed a Health Information Curriculum and Training for Transformation (HICATT) program and GCP sales certification.