50% of offices to use EHRs by year-end: HHS

The government wants to accelerate health information exchange and “build a seamless and secure flow of information to help transform the healthcare system” this year.

To accomplish it, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) leaders have renewed calls for interoperability. Among other steps, they want half of all office-based physicians to be using electronic health record (EHR) systems by the end of the year.

 “We are already seeing benefits such as a reduction in hospital readmissions due to these reforms,” says Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Acting Administrator Marilyn Tavenner. “Health [information technology] and the secure exchange of information across providers are crucial to reforming the system and must be a routine part of care delivery.”

HHS recently stated these goals for 2013:

• Have 50% of physician offices using EHRs and 80% of eligible hospitals receiving meaningful use incentive payments.

• Increase interoperability emphasis.

• Enhance the use of EHRs through programs such as the Blue Button initiative.

• Implement meaningful use stage 2.