By Jim Tate, EMR Advocate
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Host of The Tate Chronicles – #TateDispatches
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Medicare has a long history of taking bold actions. In 2003 electronic claims submission was mandated. In 2011, CMS established the EHR Incentive Programs to promote the adoption and meaningful use of certified electronic health record technology. This was renamed in 2018 to the Promoting Interoperability Programs to emphasize interoperability. TEFCA, created by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services in 2016, provided a pathway to a a nationwide framework for health information sharing.
So, we have electronic health records, we have a stated goal of interoperability, we have the TEFCA network in place. Only one thing is missing, a mandate. If Medicare could mandate electronic claims submission, why can’t it mandate interoperability? It is not necessary to force a change in the way providers practice. They wouldn’t have to avail themselves of accessing the TEFCA or using that data, but they would have to make that data available to the TEFCA network. The only thing missing is the will of Medicare to once more act boldly.
I am asking Medicare to consider a rule stating: “Any provider billing Medicare must be connected to the TEFCA network and allow data sharing.” Is this too much to ask? How much is the widespread adoption of interoperability desired? Is the commitment to lead into deeper interoperability present, or are we content to let year after year pass with a promise that “next year” will be the big year for widespread data exchange? Time for Medicare to get serious and move beyond incentives and embrace a mandate. With all the time that has passed, and all the taxpayer money spent, we deserve no less.