Requirements (Modified Stage 2)

The requirements to successfully demonstrate meaningful use were revised in the Final Rule, Stage 3 and Modifications to Meaningful Use in 2015 through 2017, published on October 6, 2015. According to CMS, the changes were made in response to feedback from all stakeholders (including providers and EHR vendors), with the goal of simplifying the program, reducing the burden on providers, and focusing on the more advanced use of EHRs, e.g., interoperability and quality reporting—the original intentions of the program.

Stage 2 is characterized by:

Increased interoperability and exchange of data between providers and with patients
Increased patient engagement in care
Higher thresholds and more complex requirements
Continued exclusions for some measures that may not be relevant to particular specialties or practice types
Clinical quality measure reporting

All providers report “Modified Stage 2”:

Beginning in 2015, all providers are considered to be at “Modified Stage 2”, with some accommodations (reduced thresholds and/or alternate exclusions) available to providers who were previously scheduled for Stage 1 in 2015, so that they do not have to meet requirements that they were not anticipating. Fewer such accommodations are available in 2016, and they will no longer be offered to new program participants from 2017 on.

Stage of Meaningful Use Criteria by First Year and Reporting Duration

First Year Demonstrating Meaningful Use	Stage of Meaningful Use
First Year Demonstrating Meaningful Use	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019 and on
2011	Modified Stage 2 Any 90 Days	Modified Stage 2	Modified Stage 2 Calendar year or Stage 3* Any 90 Days	Stage 3* Calendar Year	Stage 3* Calendar Year
2012	Modified Stage 2 Any 90 Days	Modified Stage 2 Calendar Year	Modified Stage 2 Calendar year or Stage 3* Any 90 Days	Stage 3* Calendar Year	Stage 3* Calendar Year
2013	Modified Stage 2 Any 90 Days	Modified Stage 2 Calendar Year	Modified Stage 2 Calendar year or Stage 3* Any 90 Days	Stage 3* Calendar Year	Stage 3* Calendar Year
2014	Modified Stage 2 with Accommodations Any 90 Days	Modified Stage 2 Calendar Year	Modified Stage 2 Calendar year or Stage 3* Any 90 Days	Stage 3* Calendar Year	Stage 3* Calendar Year
2015	Modified Stage 2 with Accommodations Any 90 Days	Modified Stage 2 with limited Accommodations Calendar Year	Modified Stage 2 Calendar year or Stage 3* Any 90 Days	Stage 3* Calendar Year	Stage 3* Calendar Year
2016	NA	Modified Stage 2 with limited Accommodations Calendar Year	Modified Stage 2 Calendar year or Stage 3 Any 90 Days	Stage 3* Calendar Year	Stage 3* Calendar Year
2017	NA	NA	Modified Stage 2 Calendar year or Stage 3 Any 90 Days	Stage 3* Calendar Year	Stage 3* Calendar Year
2018	NA	NA	NA	Stage 3* Calendar Year	Stage 3* Calendar Year
2019 and on	NA	NA	NA	NA	Stage 3* Calendar Year

*Subject to finalization of the Stage 3 Rule

The table is a brief overview of EHR Incentive Programs In 2016 and 2017 Objectives and Measures for Eligible Professionals

	2016		2017
Objectives	Stage 2	Scheduled Stage 1 (Accommodations*)	Stage 2
Protect Patient Health Information	Conduct Security Risk Analysis	Conduct Security Risk Analysis	Conduct Security Risk Analysis
Clinical Decision Support (CDS)	1: 5 CDSs related to >=4 CQMs 2: Enable Drug-Drug & Drug-Allergy Checks	1: 5 CDSs related to >=4 CQMs 2: Enable Drug-Drug & Drug-Allergy Checks	1: 5 CDSs related to >=4 CQMs 2: Enable Drug-Drug & Drug-Allergy Checks
CPOE	1:>60% Medications 2:>30% Labs 3:>30% Radiology	1:>60% Medications 2:Could Exclude* 3:Could Exclude*	1:>60% Medications 2:>30% Labs 3:>30% Radiology
Electronic Prescribing	>50%	>50%	>50%
Health Information Exchange	>10% transitions: Summary of Care Sent Electronically	>10% transitions: Summary of Care Sent Electronically
Patient Specific Education	>10%	>10%	>10%
Medication Reconciliation	>50%	>50%	>50%
Patient Electronic Access (VDT)	1:Access >50% 2:VDT 1 Patient	1:Access >50% 2:VDT 1 Patient	1:Access >50% 2:VDT 1 Patient
Secure Messaging	1 Patient	1 Patient	1 Patient
Public Health Reporting	Submit Electronically to 2 Registries	Submit Electronically to 2 Registries	Submit Electronically to 2 Registries
Clinical Quality Measures (CQMs)	9 CQMs over 3 Domains	9 CQMs over 3 Domains	9 CQMs over 3 Domains

*Exclusions available for some measures based on low volume, lack of relevance to practice, low broadband access.
**CMS FAQ #12985 (10/21/15) provides additional registry measure exclusions for 2015.

A more detailed description of the Modified Stage 2 objectives and measures for 2015, 2016, and 2017, including potential exclusions, can be found on the CMS website: Electronic Health Records (EHR) Incentive Programs section.

Requirements

Requirements (Modified Stage 2)

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