Has MU Improved EHR Adoption?

By Katie Wike, contributing writer

The Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association reports there is no statistically significant data proving MU incentives have had a positive effect on EHR adoption.

Authors of a recent study, published by the Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, claim their data shows no statistically significant changes to EHR adoption as a direct result of meaningful use (MU).

iHealth Beat reports the study noted overall EHR adoption between 2001 and 2013 could have increased by as many as 7 percentage points “above the level predicted in the absence of” the program’s incentives. Instead, they found the change to be insignificant.

Researchers say MU “contributed statistically insignificant nudges to the EHR diffusion curve of less than one percentage point and a half percentage point, respectively.”

According to Fierce EMR, MU was also compared to the “cash for clunkers” programs for older vehicles. MU payments may have only contributed to “inevitable” adoption of EHRs. Despite its intentions, the program may have had negative unintended consequences, such as stifling technological innovation in favor of meeting “certified” technology.

“The authors find weak evidence of the impact of the MU program on EHR uptake,” they concluded. “This is consistent with reports that many current EHR systems reduce physician productivity, lack data sharing capabilities, and need to incorporate other key interoperability features (e.g., application program interfaces).”

Joseph Goedert, blogger for Health Data Management, disagrees with the results of this study. “Doctors adopted on a fast-track because meaningful use was a government mandate that included subsidies for participating and financial penalties for non-compliance. Some things are that simple,” he explains.