CDC and Public Health Objective of Cancer Reporting
Stage 2 Eligible Professional Meaningful Use Menu Set Measures Measure #5 requires EPs to have the capability to identify and report cancer cases to a public health central cancer registry, except where prohibited, and in accordance with applicable law and practice. To meet this objective the EP must do successful ongoing submission of cancer case information from CEHRT to a public health central cancer registry for the entire EHR reporting period. Legislation requiring cancer reporting by EPs exists in 49 states with some variation in specific requirements, per the 2010 Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) State Reportable Conditions Assessment (SRCA).
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Cancer Surveillance Branch (CSB) announced it will be providing regular calls for EHR vendors to learn more about this new eligible professional (EP) public health menu objective for cancer reporting in Stage 2 of meaningful use. EHR vendors will have the opportunity to ask questions and receive technical assistance by CSB and CDC Meaningful Use Technical Assistance team members. These ongoing calls will be held on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month from 3:00-4:00pm ET, beginning on Wednesday, March 20th. There will be NO call on Wednesday April 3rd.
Current Call Schedule:
- March 20, 3:00-4:00 pm ET
- April 17, 3:00-4:00 pm ET
- May 1, 3:00-4:00 pm ET
- May 15, 3:00-4:00 pm ET
- June 5, 3:00-4:00 pm ET
- June 19, 3:00-4:00 pm ET
Conference Call information: Toll Free Number: 1-866-600-0487, Passcode: 63666994
Live Meeting Information: Join Here, Meeting ID: K7HXG6, Attendee Key: t$#T@}}8R
Any further questions can be addressed to Wendy Blumenthal at wblumenthal@cdc.gov and cc meaningfuluse@cdc.gov.
The Kentucky REC and the Cancer Disease Registry
At HIMSS this year I caught up and spoke with Dr. Carol Steltenkamp, Project Director and Principal Investigator & Robert Edwards, Executive Director of the Kentucky REC. Dr. Steltenkamp spoke about how the Kentucky REC is bringing together many of the Federal programs to help providers adopt health IT. One in particular that she highlighted was the grant through the Center of Disease Control (CDC) where they worked with end users who take care of cancer patients. Physicians that diagnose patients with cancer, the information is sent to a Cancer Disease Registry. End users have entered the information into their certified EHR systems which sends to the KY Health Information Exchange and then reported to the Registry. Hear Dr. Steltenkamp talk about the Kentucky REC participating with the CDC and the Cancer Registry.
HIMSS Highlight with Kentucky REC, Dr. Carol Steltenkamp, Project Director and Principal Investigator & Robert Edwards, Executive Director