Connecticut State Department of Public Health

Meaningful Use

 

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) enacted the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act to accelerate the adoption of health information technology.  The ARRA offers incentives to eligible providers and hospitals to adopt health information technology and use it in a “meaningful” way.  Meaningful Use is defined in a specific way, requiring fifteen "core" and ten "menu" criteria.  Of the ten menu options, three require reporting to public health:

  • Submit electronic data to public health immunization registries/systems.
  • Provide electronic submission of reportable lab results to public health agencies.
  • Provide electronic syndromic surveillance data to public health agencies.

Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) is currently working towards accepting immunization data, electronic laboratory reports for notifiable diseases and conditions, and syndromic data in a meaningful manner to improve public health from providers, hospitals, and electronic health records vendors.

 

Current project status

 

02/15/19 - Program Year 2019 Meaningful Use Public Health Measure Update

04/03/18 - Program Year 2018 Meaningful Use Public Health Measure Update

11/22/17 - Program Year 2017 Meaningful Use Public Health Measure Update

12/13/16 - Program Year 2017 Meaningful Use Public Health Measure Update

01/22/16 - Program Year 2016 Meaningful Use Public Health Measure Update

01/22/16 - Program Year 2015 Meaningful Use Public Health Measure Update

 

DPH is currently working on the infrastructure to support the submission of electronic laboratory reports, immunization data and syndromic surveillance.  Please check back for further updates.

 

Information for Providers

The Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs will provide a financial incentive to eligible providers, hospitals and critical care hospitals as they adopt, implement, upgrade or demonstrate "meaningful use" of certified EHR technology. By putting into action and meaningfully using an EHR system, providers will reap benefits beyond financial incentives–such as reduction in errors, availability of records and data, reminders and alerts, clinical decision support, and e-prescribing/refill automation.

 

Participation in the Connecticut Medicaid Electronic Health Record Incentive Program

Eligible Professionals who are planning to participate in the Connecticut Medicaid Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Program are required to register with the Medical Assistance Provider Incentive Repository (MAPIR).  The MAPIR is targeted to launch by summer 2011.  Please check the official Connecticut Medicaid Incentives EHR Incentive Program website for information and updates. 

 

Registration with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Service’s National Level Repository (NLR)

Eligible Professionals are also required to register with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Service’s National Level Repository (NLR).

 

Additional Meaningful Use websites:

  

Information for EHR Vendors

The Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs require the use of certified EHR technology. Standards, implementation specifications, and certification criteria for EHR technology have been adopted by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. EHR technology must be tested and certified by an Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) Authorized Testing and Certification Body (ATCB) in order for a provider to qualify for EHR incentive payments.