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CMS released (via their listserv) a document outlining several changes to Stage 1 MU measures beginning this year (2013). One in particular is (to us) a "biggie":
Public Health Reporting Objectives Beginning in 2013, all of the Stage 1 public health objectives (submitting data to an immunization registry, submitting data to a syndromic surveillance database, or submitting reportable lab results to a public health agency) will require that providers perform at least one test of their Certified EHR Technology’s capability to send data to public health agencies, except where prohibited. The intent of this modification is to encourage all EPs, eligible hospitals, and CAHs to submit public health data, even when not required by State/local law. Therefore, if providers are authorized to submit the data, they should do so even if it is not required by either law or practice. If the test of submission is successful, provider should institute regular reporting with the entity with whom the successful test was conducted.
What kind of information/syndromic surveillance/labs should be sent to these public health agencies? Our state (NC) still is not ready to receive immunizations electronically, but I would think other entities are for the other items.
How is your facility addressing this change? What speciality and state are you in?
Thanks,
Posted : January 29, 2013 3:05 am
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Anyone working on addressing the 2013 changes to MU regarding Public Health Reporting Objectives?
Posted : April 15, 2013 11:36 pm
Our state's immunization registry (Louisiana) just started accepting electronic messages at the end of last year. My health group was really the first to start sending them.
In your case where your immunization registry isn't ready shouldn't affect this MU measure. Shouldn't you be able to send a test message and even though it fails, you should get credit for Centricity having the ability to send this information electronically? What about your public health agencies? Can they receive electronic messages sent from Centricity?
Since our health group gets credit for this MU measure for sending immunizations, I haven't looked at the other public health agencies, but I think for Stage 2 and NCQA they will start looking for Centricity to send out syndromic surveillance data to public health agencies. As far as what should be sent to these public health agencies, I have no idea. I guess it depends on what the public health agency wants from your practice. Here is the wiki on Syndromic Surveillance that might give you some more information on what it is.
Posted : April 16, 2013 12:43 am
Sam- We too are in NC. We attested for our 2nd year of MU (2012). We submitted documentation that NC was not able to accept syndromic surveillance data. Our submission was approved too by CMS.
Ashley Corbean
@guilfordmedical.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">acorbean@guilfordmedical.com
Posted : April 25, 2013 5:24 am
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Thanks for the follow up. I have since confirmed that we are exempt from the public health measures since we are a speciality practice and they do not apply to our treatment.
Posted : April 25, 2013 5:49 am
