Meaningful use includes both a core set and a menu set of objectives that are specific for eligible professionals (EPs). There are a total of 25 meaningful use objectives. Fifteen core objectives are required; the remaining five objectives may be chosen from the list of 10 menu-set objectives. EPs must complete 20 of the 25 objectives to qualify for an incentive payment during Stage 1. Objective completion does not apply to the Medicaid incentive program in year one.
15 Required Core Objectives
- Computerized physician order entry (CPOE)
- E-Prescribing (eRx)
- Report ambulatory clinical quality measures to CMS/States
- Implement one clinical decision support rule
- Provide patients with an electronic copy of their health information, upon request
- Provide clinical summaries for patients for each office visit
- Drug-drug and drug-allergy interaction checks
- Record demographics
- Maintain an up-to-date problem list of current and active diagnoses
- Maintain active medication list
- Maintain active medication allergy list
- Record and chart changes in vital signs
- Record smoking status for patients 13 years and older
- Capability to exchange key clinical information among providers of care and patient-authorized entities electronically
- Protect electronic health information
Select Five Menu Set Objectives
- Drug-formulary checks
- Incorporate clinical lab test results as structured data
- Generate lists of patients by specific conditions
- Send reminders to patients per patient preference for preventive/follow-up care
- Provide patients with timely electronic access to their health information
- Use certified EHR technology to identify patient-specific education resources and provide to patient, if appropriate
- Medication reconciliation
- Summary of care record for each transition of care/referrals
- Capability to submit electronic data to immunization registries/systems*
- Capability to provide electronic syndromic surveillance data public health agencies*
*At least one public health objective must be selected
Useful Links
- HHS Electronic Health Records and Meaningful Use
- HHS Press Release Announcing Meaningful Use Rules
- NEJM Article:"The 'Meaningful Use' Regulation for Electronic Health Records", July 13, 2010.
- NEJM Article: "Finding My Way to Electronic Health Records," August 5, 2010
- CMS Initial Set of Standards, Implementation Specifications, and Certification Criteria for Electronic Health Record Technology
- Table Comparing Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) vs. Final Rule on Meaningful Use
- Stage 1 Meaningful Use Objectives and Associated Measures Sorted by Core and Menu Set
- Stage 1 Meaningful Use Objectives and Associated Measures Sorted by Method of Measure Calculation
