Private Sector Shows Support for Meaningful Use

Now that the Department of Health and Human Services has announced final rules for meaningful use of electronic health records, we have a framework that will enable action by players across the board -- in both the private and public sectors.

Some of those players announced their action plans yesterday -- putting their weight behind the meaningful use goals and pledging to work together. At a recent meeting on Advancing EHR Adoption and Meaningful Use sponsored by Health Affairs and Brandeis University's Health Industry Forum at the National Press Club, payers, providers, and certification and licensing boards came together to announce early plans for supporting rapid adoption and meaningful use of electronic health records. With the meaningful use goals as their framework, these representatives of the private sector are formulating a strategy for the transformation of health care in our country through the use of health IT. These are indeed significant and encouraging first steps, occurring a mere three weeks after announcement of the final phase 1 meaningful use rules. We applaud their efforts and we look forward to more payers, providers, and others in both the public and private sectors joining the team to move together towards our common goal.