AMA and others call for pause in Meaningful Use program

The American Medical Association (AMA) and 41 medical societies today urged the administration to pause the final stages of the federal government’s Meaningful Use program in light of pivotal changes to Medicare. The coalition of physician organizations believe that locking in Stage 3 rules for the Meaningful Use program would be an unwise step that undermines the implementation of Medicare payment reforms.

In letters delivered today to the Secretary of Health and Human Services Sylvia Burwell and Office of Management and Budget Director Shaun Donovan, the physician organizations noted that the proposed Stage 3 regulation was developed prior to and without consideration of the changes enacted by the Medicare Access and Chip Reauthorization Act (MACRA). Given the vital role of the Meaningful Use program in the reformed payment systems introduced by MACRA, proceeding with the proposed Stage 3 rules threatens to impede the health care delivery innovations Congress sought to promote when it passed the law.