As of the end of February, 458,137 eligible hospitals and professionals were participating in the meaningful use program, officials said during a Health IT Policy Committee meeting last week, Government Health IT reports. 

Under the 2009 federal economic stimulus package, health care providers who demonstrate meaningful use of certified electronic health record systems can qualify for Medicaid and Medicare incentive payments.

Details of Participation

During the meeting, Elizabeth Myers -- policy and outreach lead at CMS' Office of eHealth Standards and Services -- presented some early raw data from the most recent meaningful use reporting year that show that:

• Nineteen unique Medicaid-eligible providers received an incentive payment during the first month of the 2014 reporting year, compared with 31,573 in all of 2012; and
• Five unique Medicaid-eligible hospitals received an incentive payment during the first month of the 2014 reporting year, compared with 3,740 in all of 2012.

Myers noted that the numbers likely are low because providers often wait until the end of the reporting year to attest for meaningful use, but she said that CMS is "keeping an eye on things."

According to Myers, 9,387 eligible health care providers since February have joined the meaningful use program, including 5,716 Medicare providers, 3,662 Medicaid providers and nine hospitals.

In addition, the early data show that:

• 114,000 Medicare meaningful users from 2012 returned to attest in 2013 (Manos, Government Health IT, 4/9);
• 14,000 Medicare meaningful users from 2011 did not attest to meaningful use in 2012; and
• Overall, about 85% of Medicare early adopters successfully attested in 2011, 2012 and 2013 (Pedulli, Clinical Innovation & Technology, 4/9).

Myers said CMS plans to publish online complete findings from the most recent reporting year (Government Health IT, 4/9).