MGMA Urges Hold On Meaningful Use Penalties

Citing concern about vendor readiness and that "significant investments" in EHR technology could go for naught, MGMA leadership is calling on HHS for an indefinite moratorium on meaningful use penalties for physicians who have completed Stage 1 meaningful use requirements.

The association of physician practice administrators is one of several that has recently called on federal officials to adjust parts of the meaningful use program.

In an Aug. 21 letter to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, MGMA President and CEO Susan Turney wrote about physician concerns over the diminished opportunity for physician practices to meet the requirements of Stage 2.

MGMA represents 22,500 members who lead 13,200 organizations nationwide. Those physician practices include about 280,000 physicians that provide more than 40 percent of the healthcare services delivered in the United States.