Yes, the Stage 2 ‘meaningful use’ proposal will be out before HIMSS

There have been a lot of reports of late that HHS will publish its notice of proposed rulemaking for Stage 2 of the “meaningful use” EHR incentive program some time in February. That information is based on an e-mail update from CMS.

I can go one better than that: The proposal will be out in the next three weeks or so, before the start of the annual HIMSS conference on Feb. 21. How do I know this? Check out educational session No. 90 from the HIMSS 12 program, set for the morning of Wednesday, Feb. 22. Speakers haven’t been announced yet, but here’s the description: “An overview of the recently published Stage 2 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for the EHR Incentive Programs, including changes to Stage 1 requirements, new meaningful use requirements for Stage 2, and changes to clinical quality measure reporting for eligible professionals and eligible hospitals.”

Yep, the NPRM will have been “recently published” by the time HIMSS rolls around.