What are the requirements for MU Stage 1?
CMS has established objectives that all providers must meet to demonstrate you are using your EHR in a way that can positively affect the care of your patients. Some of the objectives have a minimum percentage that you have to meet, others specify an action that must be taken or a functionality of the EHR that must be enabled. For each Meaningful Use stage, you are required to meet the specified core objectives, and a pre-determined number of the menu objectives.
To meet the requirements for Meaningful Use Stage 1, you must fulfill all of the required 13 Core Objectives, along with 5 of the available Menu Objectives.
All eligible professionals, no matter what stage you are in, must meet 9 clinical quality measures (CQMs) to meet MU requirements. Learn more about clinical quality measures.
Meaningful Use Stage 1 Core Objectives
| Core Objectives | Measurement Threshold |
|---|---|
| 1. CPOE | > 30% of all unique patients with a medication in their medication list have at least one order entry using CPOE |
| 2. Drug-drug and Drug-allergy checks | Enable Drug-drug and Drug-allergy interaction checks for the entire reporting period |
| 3. Maintain Problem List | > 80% of all unique patients have at least one entry or indication of no known problems |
| 4. eRx | > 40% of all permissible prescriptions are transmitted electronically |
| 5. Maintain Medication List | > 80% of all unique patients have at least one entry or indication of no medication |
| 6. Maintain Medication Allergy List | > 80% of all unique patients have at least one entry or indication of no known medication allergies |
| 7. Record Demographics | > 50% of all unique patients have preffered language, gender, race, ethnicity and date of birth recorded |
| 8. Vital Signs | > 50% of all unique patients have height and weight recorded, patients ≥ 3 years old also need blood pressure recorded |
| 9. Smoking Status | > 50% of unique patients (> 13 years old) have smoking status recorded |
| 10. Clinical Decision Support | Implement 1 CDS rule and have it enabled for the entire reporting period |
| 11. Patient Electronic Access | > 50% of patients have access to clinical data within 4 business days |
| 12. Clinical Summaries | >50% of office visits patients receive a clinical summary within 3 business days |
| 13. Protect Health Information | Conduct or review security risk analysis |
| Meaningful Use Stage 1 Core Objectives |
|---|
| Core Objective 1: CPOE Measurement Threshold: > 30% of all unique patients with a medication in their medication list have at least one order entry using CPOE |
| Core Objective 2: Drug-drug and Drug-allergy checks Measurement Threshold: Enable Drug-drug and Drug-allergy interaction checks for the entire reporting period |
| Core Objective 3: Maintain Problem List Measurement Threshold: > 80% of all unique patients have at least one entry or indication of no known problems |
| Core Objective 4: eRx Measurement Threshold: > 40% of all permissible prescriptions are transmitted electronically |
| Core Objective 5: Maintain Medication List Measurement Threshold: > 80% of all unique patients have at least one entry or indication of no medication |
| Core Objective 6: Maintain Medication Allergy List Measurement Threshold: > 80% of all unique patients have at least one entry or indication of no known medication allergies |
| Core Objective 7: Record Demographics Measurement Threshold: > 50% of all unique patients have preffered language, gender, race, ethnicity and date of birth recorded |
| Core Objective 8: Vital Signs Measurement Threshold: > 50% of all unique patients have height and weight recorded, patients ≥ 3 years old also need blood pressure recorded |
| Core Objective 9: Smoking Status Measurement Threshold: > 50% of unique patients (> 13 years old) have smoking status recorded |
| Core Objective 10: Clinical Decision Support Measurement Threshold: Implement 1 CDS rule and have it enabled for the entire reporting period |
| Core Objective 11: Patient Electronic Access Measurement Threshold: > 50% of patients have access to clinical data within 4 business days |
| Core Objective 12: Clinical Summaries Measurement Threshold: >50% of office visits patients receive a clinical summary within 3 business days |
| Core Objective 13: Protect Health Information Measurement Threshold: Conduct or review security risk analysis |
Stage 1 is easy with the right MU-certified EHR
What are the Requirements for Meaningful Use Stage 1 and 2?
Stage 1
Eligible Professionals
- 13 core objectives
- 5 menu objectives
- 18 total objectives
- +9 CQMs
Stage 2
Eligible Professionals
- 17 core objectives
- 3 menu objectives
- 20 total objectives
- +9 CQMs
Meaningful Use Stage 1 Menu Objectives (Must Select 5)
| Menu Objectives | Measurement Threshold |
|---|---|
| 1. Submit data to immunization registry (Public Health Measure) | One-time test to submit electronic data to immunization registries and follow-up submission if test is successful |
| 2. Submit syndromic surveillance data to public health registry (Public Health Measure) | One-time test to submit electronic data to public health agencies and follow-up submission if test is successful |
| 3. Drug Formulary Check | Enabled functionality and access to at least one internal or external formulary for entire reporting period |
| 4. Clinical Lab-test Results | > 40% of all clinical lab test results are recorded as structured data |
| 5. List of Patients by Specific Conditions | Generate at least one report listing patients with a specific condition |
| 6. Send Patient Reminders | > 20% of patients < 5 years old or > 65 years old are sent a reminder |
| 7. Patient Education Resources | > 10% of patients with office visits are provided patient specific education resources |
| 8. Medication Reconciliation | > 50% of transitions in care must have medication reconciliation |
| 9. Transition of Care Records | Provide a summary of care for > 50% of transitions of care and referrals |
| MU Stage 1 Required Menu Objectives (must select 5) |
|---|
| Menu Objective 1: Submit data to immunization registry (Public Health Measure) Measurement Threshold: One-time test to submit electronic data to immunization registries and follow-up submission if test is successful |
| Menu Objective 2: Submit syndromic surveillance data to public health registry (Public Health Measure Measurement Threshold: One-time test to submit electronic data to public health agencies and follow-up submission if test is successful |
| Menu Objective 3: Drug Formulary Check Measurement Threshold: Enabled functionality and access to at least one internal or external formulary for entire reporting period |
| Menu Objective 4: Clinical Lab-test Results Measurement Threshold:> 40% of all clinical lab test results are recorded as structured data |
| Menu Objective 5: List of Patients by Specific Conditions Measurement Threshold: Generate at least one report listing patients with a specific condition |
| Menu Objective 6: Send Patient Reminders Measurement Threshold: > 20% of patients < 5 years old or > 65 years old are sent a reminder |
| Menu Objective 7: Patient Education Resources Measurement Threshold: > 10% of patients with office visits are provided patient specific education resources |
| Menu Objective 8: Medication Reconciliation Measurement Threshold:> 50% of transitions in care must have medication reconciliation |
| Menu Objective 9: Transition of Care Records Measurement Threshold:Provide a summary of care for > 50% of transitions of care and referrals |
Note 1: You must complete one public health requirement (objective #1 or #2 above)
What is the reporting timeline for MU Stage 1?
During Stage 1, if you are a Medicare eligible professional, you must meet these requirements over a 90-day period for the first year, and for the next entire year thereafter.
If you are a Medicaid eligible professional, you only need to adopt, upgrade, or implement a certified EHR in your first year, complete a 90-day reporting period in year 2, and report for the entire next year thereafter.
