The Medical Group Management Association is offering recommendations to improve the electronic health record incentive program that is part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

In a letter to David Blumenthal, MD, national coordinator for health information technology, MGMA officials say they're worried that if the program isn't properly administered, healthcare providers will fail to meet the criteria of “meaningful use" and will be ineligible for stimulus money.

“In developing the incentive program logistics, the federal government must ensure that concepts of practicality and achievability serve as the foundation of the process,” said William F. Jessee, MD, the MGMA's president and CEO. “Should clinicians encounter significant and burdensome program-related roadblocks and hurdles in their efforts to achieve and prove that they are meaningful users of an EHR, the government runs the risk of not fulfilling the legislation’s directive, and the program could fail to bring about the system improvements many of us envision.”

The MGMA is recommending:

• instituting a pilot test prior to the start of the program and before each new phase of the program;
• including only criteria for meaningful use that have widespread industry use or have been tested; 
• using only those meaningful use administrative criteria that are appropriate and achievable;
• permitting physicians to test their reporting systems prior to their “go-live” date;
• permitting flexibility in achieving meaningful use and avoiding a “pass/fail” approach;
• developing a simple process for physicians to attest that they have achieved meaningful use;
• simplifying the data-reporting process and ensuring that the government is ready to accept the data; and
• closely monitoring the industry to ensure that the program logistics operate appropriately.

Accotding to MGMA officials, it's critical that the government monitor the vendor community for its ability to produce high-quality and reasonably priced software.

Jessee said the MGMA is looking forward to working with Blumenthal and his staff to create an incentive program that attracts large numbers of physicians who are committed to implementing healthcare information technology.

“This is a historic opportunity for the industry to improve the clinical care physicians deliver to their patients and to streamline healthcare administration," he said. "If constructed effectively, this program has the potential of transforming the nation’s healthcare system.”