NextGen Healthcare clients who are returning meaningful users in 2016 have until February 29, 2016 to meet the “active engagement” requirement for Stage 2 meaningful use (MU).
Not to be confused with the deadline to attest for 2015 MU (recently extended to March 11), providers planning to meet MU in 2016 must achieve active engagement for two measures of the three available measures under Objective #8 (Public Health Reporting), by no later than February 29.
- Measure #1 – Immunization reporting
- Measure #2 – Syndromic reporting
- Measure #3 – Specialized registry reporting* (providers actively engaged to submit data to more than one specialized registry may count this measure twice)
Under the rules, providers have three options for meeting the active engagement requirement:
- Active Engagement Option 1 – Complete Registration (i.e., register intent with a qualified registry)
- Active Engagement Option 2 – Testing and Validation
- Active Engagement Option 3 – Production
What do I need to do?
For providers not yet sending test or production data to a registry, the first step is to complete registration. Providers who have not yet done so should register with the public health agency in their jurisdiction and/or a specialized registry immediately.
The registry should furnish a letter indicating the names of the providers who have registered intent to submit data before the active engagement deadline.
If you have started testing or sending production data, you should get written acknowledgement that active engagement began before the deadline.
How can NextGen Healthcare help us meet the active engagement deadline?
NextGen Healthcare offers interfaces for immunization and syndromic registry reporting. If these types of registries are available in your state or jurisdiction for your specialty, you should register you intent while working with your NextGen Healthcare sales representative to obtain the required interface or interfaces.
NextGen Healthcare also offers our NextGen® Clinical Registry Service, a specialized registry reporting solution that helps clients meet measure #3. To learn more – please visit NextGen Clinical Registry Service. The site lists available registries for various specialties.
Can NextGen Healthcare assist with other registries that are not listed on the NextGen Clinical Registry Service site?
This depends on the registry and what data standards they utilize and, therefore, if the registry is able to test with NextGen Healthcare.** Clients may register their intent (active engagement option #1) with a qualified registry that meets the definition under the MU rules. However, if invited to test, you have 30 days to respond or otherwise forfeit the ability to count the measure for the 2016 reporting period.
* Providers attesting to meaningful use for the first time in 2016 have until the 60th day of their 90-day reporting period to actively engage with one qualified registry.
** There may be interface costs for connecting to specialized registries not listed on the NextGen Clinical Registry Service website.