Document Type

Research Project

Publication Date

2013

Abstract

This study used Meaningful Use (MU) payment information as a proxy for electronic health record (EHR) adoption linked to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) data indicating quality to demonstrate the association of EHR adoption with improved care. The CMS quality indicators used were comprised of data from the value-based purchasing (VBP) program, readmission reduction program, and hospital compare mortality data. Results showed a positive association of EHR adoption with the VBP data, which most closely aligns the MU achievement period with the quality measure period. Readmission and mortality data showed negative and neutral associations, respectively, with a less aligned timeframes. In addition, descriptive analysis was performed to characterize hospitals meeting the MU criteria, changes from year one to year two of the program, and a computation of providers that met in the first year and failed to meet the second year. Descriptive analysis shows large increase in MU achievement in year 2, especially for rural hospitals. The analysis also shows there is a greater than 30 percent drop-off rate of hospitals that met in year 1 and were unable to reach achievement in year 2.

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