AAFP gives doctors a platform to demand Congress delay Stage 3 of meaningful use
More than 1,900 Academy members have asked Congress to halt Stage 3, as many are still mired in the requirements for Stage 2.
The American Academy of Family Physicians launched an online portal to make it easier for its doctor members to demand Congress push back Stage 3 of the meaningful use regulation. The Speak Out platform directly connects family physicians to their representatives.
Much to the frustration of many physicians, CMS issued its final rules on Stage 3 MU at the beginning of this month. The agency did include a 60-day comment period, however, asking for industry feedback.
More than 1,900 Academy members have asked Congress to halt Stage 3, as many are still mired in the requirements for Stage 2. The changes, they argue, place a great financial burden on family practices and reduce the ability to maintain high-quality patient care standards.
[Also: American Medical Association asks for pause in meaningful use over payment concerns]
"The meaningful use program has departed from its original goals and has devolved into a clunky and complicated process, undermined by interoperability, growing administrative burdens and unrealistic incentive requirements," an AAFP message to legislators said.
The message to legislators demands the delay of Stage 3 to refocus MU on improving patient care, rather than just of increasing the difficulties for practices to comply with the program.
The physician messages could be expected to be received positively by Congress, where more than 100 House members asked for a delay just before the final rule was issued, and key Senators have also expressed deep skepticism about the program.
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