CMS to delay EHR Stage 3 rulemaking, but not ICD-10

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will delay any rulemaking on Stage 3 meaningful use of electronic health records until next year while the agency examines how the existing requirements are rolling out, CMS Acting Administrator Marilyn Tavenner said today at a HIMSS conference in New Orleans. AHA urged the agency to take similar action in a January letter<http://www.aha.org/advocacy-issues/letter/2013/130114-cl-hhs-os-2012-0007.pdf> to HHS’ Health IT Policy Committee.

Tavenner also confirmed that the ICD-10 implementation deadline of Oct. 1, 2014 will stand firm. In addition, CMS and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology today issued a notice seeking input on potential policy and program changes to accelerate electronic health information exchanges across providers. “To further accelerate and advance interoperability and health information exchange beyond what is currently being done through ONC programs and the EHR Incentive Program, HHS is considering a number of policy levers using existing authorities and programs,” states the notice<http://www.ofr.gov/OFRUpload/OFRData/2013-05266_PI.pdf>, which will be published in tomorrow’s Federal Register with comments accepted through April 21.