The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposes too high a bar for achieving “meaningful use” of electronic health records (EHR) and an unrealistically short transition time for adopting EHR systems, the American Hospital Association (AHA) stated in comments about the agency’s proposed definition of EHR meaningful use. The AHA’s letter also recommends expanding eligibility for EHR incentive payments to more physicians who work in hospitals and to make separate incentive payments to hospitals that share the same provider number; and suggests that instead of requiring hospitals to meet all 23 of its proposed requirements by 2011 to be deemed a meaningful user of EHR, allowing hospitals to meet 25 percent of the objectives by next year.

During late February, President Obama released a summary of his health care reform proposal, followed by a letter to Congressional leaders with additional recommendations intended to bring the House and Senate versions of reform closer together. The Senate’s Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (H.R. 3590) is the basis for the President’s plan, which includes changes that “reflect policies from the House-passed bill and the President’s priorities,” according to the White House, as well as several Republican policy priorities raised during the White House Summit. The American Hospital Association (AHA) has released a summary that highlights some of the key changes to the Senate bill.

After several weeks of budget hearings, the General Assembly returns to session in Harrisburg on March 8. As part of an effort to advance a more timely budget, Democratic House leaders may try to vote on a budget proposal the week of March 22. Earlier this week, the Senate Appropriations Committee held a budget hearing with the Acting Secretary of the Department of Public Welfare. Questions were raised by several senators about the proposed fiscal year 2010-2011 budget’s reliance on the enhanced federal Medicaid matching funds (FMAP) extension and concern was expressed about payment cuts to hospitals. HAP continues to work with legislators on understanding the budget and its implications for hospitals.