Consumer groups rally for patient focus in meaningful use

The government should not water down the patient and consumer provisions of its proposed health IT meaningful use rule to focus narrowly on simple adoption of HIT, a group of consumer organizations warned.

"Many (health) organizations have warned that these (patient-centered) criteria are too difficult to achieve," said Christine Bechtel, vice president of the National Partnership for Women & Families. "We disagree". There are many ways that the draft rule supports the right balance between accelerating the use of HIT and helping providers make meaningful change, she said. Other organizations in the group include AARP, Center for Democracy and Technology, Consumers Union and the Pacific Business Group on Health, which represents employers. Bechtel said that patient engagement in meaningful use would have real benefits.