Adeel Siddiqui MBBS, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Mehwish Shayaan MBBS, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Keith J. Dreyer DO, PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Author, Springer Science+Business Media Deutschland GmbH Author, HealthMU Press Editorial Advisory Board, UBM plc Editorial Advisory Board, Imaging Economics Editorial Advisory Board, AuntMinnie.com Medical Advisor, Agfa-Gevaert Group Medical Advisor, Amirsys, Inc Medical Advisor, Carestream Health, Inc Medical Advisor, lifeIMAGE Inc Medical Advisor, Merge Healthcare Incorporated Medical Advisor, Nuance Communications, Inc Medical Advisor, RCG HealthCare Consulting

Group structure and timing of the upgrade cycle are key factors in determining whether a radiology group should pursue meaningful use.  Many groups may still take advantage of the EHR incentive program not only for the short term financial gain, but also for the increased interoperability it brings with referring physicians.     

The purpose of this talk is update the radiology community regarding meaningful use to see if it is right for their practice. This is meant as an update to the 2012 abstract “The Pursuit of Meaningful Use”. Meaningful use (MU) is a government run program to accelerate the adoption of electronic health records in the United States. In 2014, Individual radiologists can earn up to $24,000 if they comply with the program. Recent addition of the significant hardship exemption to radiologists gives groups a convenient way to avoid penalties. Lack of specialty specific criteria, and availability of certified products have already made people wary. When should a practice look to upgrade to MU? When should a practice avoid MU?  

Radiologists can claim significant hardship exemptions based on the radiology specialty codes to avoid penalties. Radiology must be listed as the primary specialty of the physician in the Provider Enrollment, Chain, and Ownership System (PECOS). 

Recently published significant hardship exemption rules limit potential penalties by radiologists. On the other hand, Radiology groups affiliated with an institution that already has a certified electronic health record (EHR), or groups that are single site with a single radiology information system (RIS) are in a great position to benefit from MU with little effort or cost. Small groups that have resisted upgrade cycles will never have a better time to upgrade. These types of practices can would also enjoy the benefits of being better integrated with the entire hospital information systems. Groups that have completed upgrades recently or do not have a high Medicare population are the most vulnerable to excessive costs and “upgrade fatigue”. These groups might take advantage of the significant hardship exemption.   

Siddiqui, A, Shayaan, M, Dreyer, K, The Pursuit of Meaningful Use Part 2: When Penalties Don't Matter.  Radiological Society of North America 2013 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, December 1 - December 6, 2013 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2013/13044494.html