AMA supports legislative effort to revise the meaningful use program

The American Medical Association (AMA) today declared its strong support for new legislation responding to the depths of doctors' dissatisfaction with the federal government's Meaningful Use program. The bill introduced by U.S. Rep. Renee Ellmers from North Carolina would address many problems in the Meaningful Use Program by introducing needed flexibility and enhancing electronic health records (EHR) to improve patient care and access to health information.

The Meaningful Use program has spurred 80 percent of physicians to implement EHRs in their practices, but the AMA has long held that the program's ambitious timetable and prescriptive approach has produced undesired consequences that have directly hindered the ability of EHR technology to perform as an effective clinical tool for patients and physicians.