Promoting Interoperability Program (formerly Meaningful Use)
This page is specific to the Promoting Interoperability Program and hospitals, critical access hospitals, and healthcare providers pursuing related measures and objectives. Promoting Interoperability (formerly Meaningful Use) is a national initiative to implement information technology for the ultimate purpose of improving patient care. The approach has been presented in three distinct stages and includes a number of public health objectives:
Stage 1: Data collection & sharing (implementation of electronic health record systems) - achieve during federal fiscal year (FFY) 2011-2013*
Stage 2: Advanced clinical processes - achieve during FFY 2014-2015*
Modified Stage 2: Advanced clinical processes - achieve during FFY 2016-2017*
Stage 3: Improved outcomes - achieve during FFY 2018-2021*
*These are general time frames.
Iowa Department of Public Health readiness:
IDPH is maintaining this web page as the authoritative source of all public health reporting options supported by IDPH in Iowa. This page will be updated as public health Promoting Interoperability reporting options change.
Public Health Promoting Interoperability Letter 09.20.2019
Public Health Promoting Interoperability Letter 06.14.2019
Public Health Meaningful Use Letter 06.30.2017
Public Health Meaningful Use Letter 07.01.2016
Public Health Meaningful Use Letter 05.23.2016
Public Health Meaningful Use Letter 03.24.2015
Public Health Meaningful Use Letter 02.19.2015
Public Health Meaningful Use Letter 05.01.2014
Public Health Meaningful Use Letter 10.29.2013
Public Health Meaningful Use Letter 05.01.2013
Public Health Meaningful Use Letter 03.22.2012
Public Health Meaningful Use Letter 12.28.2011
Public Health Meaningful Use Letter 07.06.2011
Promoting Interoperability Program Information
- See https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Legislation/EHRIncentivePrograms/index.html for more information regarding the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) Promoting Interoperability Program.
- See https://dhs.iowa.gov/ime/providers/tools-trainings-and-services/medicaid-initiatives/EHRincentives for more information regarding the Health Information Technology (HIT) and Promoting Interoperability (PI) Program in Iowa.
- See https://www.cms.gov/files/document/medicaid-ep-2020-public-health-reporting-objective-8.pdf for more information regarding the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) technology certification standards and criteria. Stage 3 Meaningful Use requires the use of Certified EHR Technology (CEHRT) and the Public Health objective requires that a Public Health Agency or Clinical Data Registry use an ONC-recognized standard. There is no ONC- recognized standard for the prescription drug monitoring program (PMP).
Public Health objectives, which involve electronic submission of data:
Submission to Immunization Registries - IDPH is Ready
- Measure: The EP is in active engagement with a PHA to submit immunization data and receive immunization forecasts and histories from the public health immunization registry/immunization information system (IIS).
- Bidirectional exchange is available and required for Stage 3. Contact the IRIS Help Desk at 800-374-3958 ext. 3 or 4, if a bidirectional exchange has not yet been established.
- Stage 3 Active Engagement with IRIS can be met by:
- Testing and Validation: The EP is in the process of testing and validation of the electronic submission of data. EPs must respond to requests from the PHA or, where applicable, the CDR within 30 days; failure to respond twice within an EHR reporting period would result in that EP not meeting the measure.
- Production: The EP has completed testing and validation of the electronic submission and is electronically submitting production data to the PHA or CDR.
Submission of Reportable Lab Results (electronic laboratory reporting or ELR) - IDPH is Ready
- Objective: Capability to submit electronic data on reportable (as required by state or local law) lab results to PH agencies and actual submission in accordance with applicable law and practice.
- More information available at: Iowa Disease Surveillance System (IDSS).
- This objective is only available for hospitals and critical access hospitals.
Electronic Case Reporting - IDPH is Ready
- Objective: The eligible hospital, CAH, or eligible provider is in active engagement with a public health agency to submit case reporting of reportable conditions
- Links to registration information are now available on the IDSS page.
Public Health Surveillance (Syndromic Surveillance) - IDPH is Ready
- Objective: Capability to submit electronic syndromic surveillance data to PH agencies and actual submission in accordance with applicable law and practice.
- More information available at: Syndromic Surveillance
Public Health Registries
Objective: The eligible hospital or CAH is in active engagement with a public health agency to submit data to one or more public health registries
Report cancer cases to a State cancer registry - IDPH/SHRI is Ready
- Capability to identify and report cancer cases to a public health central cancer registry, except where prohibited, and in accordance with applicable law and practice.
- This measure is NOT applicable for hospitals or critical access hospitals.
- The State Health Registry of Iowa/Iowa Cancer Registry is working with IDPH to assist healthcare providers meet Promoting Interoperability Program objectives in Iowa. Information about the reporting file layout can be found at https://www.cdc.gov/ehrmeaningfuluse/cancer.html
- If you are interested in testing with the Iowa Cancer Registry, please see contact information for the Registry Director, Suzanne Bentler, in the most recent "Public Health Promoting Interoperability Letter" posted at the top of this page under Iowa Department of Public Health Readiness or by using the Iowa Cancer Registry Contact Us page at https://www.public-health.uiowa.edu/shri/contact-us/.
- Steps in Cancer Registry On-boarding
Newborn Screening - IDPH is Ready
The Iowa Newborn Screening Information System (INSIS) is a secure, web-based system for reporting newborn hearing screening results in Iowa. This specialized registry option is available to eligible birthing facilities who conduct these types of newborn screenings and follow-up testing. INSIS has the capacity to receive newborn hearing screening data electronically from electronic health records using HL7 messaging. For more information, contact ccid@idph.iowa.gov.
Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP) - IDPH is Ready
- IDPH is supporting use of the Iowa PMP as a Promoting Interoperability measure.
The Iowa PMP, otherwise known as AWARxE, is a database of Schedule 2, 3 and 4 controlled substance prescription drugs dispensed by in-state and non-resident pharmacies, and from the offices of prescribers to Iowa residents. The controlled substance prescription data is reported and uploaded to the PMP no later than the next business day following dispensation of the medication. Any prescriber with a valid DEA number is eligible to obtain a PMP account. Consultation of the Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP) may or may not qualify as a Promoting Interoperability (formerly Meaningful Use) measure. Stage 3 Meaningful Use requires the use of Certified EHR Technology (CEHRT) and the Public Health objective requires that a Public Health Agency or Clinical Data Registry use an ONC-recognized standard. There is no ONC-recognized standard for the prescription drug monitoring program (PMP). See link #3 above under Promoting Interoperability Program Information.
To apply for a PMP user account please visit https://iowa.pmpaware.net.
Iowa Health Information Network/CyncHealth
The Iowa Health Information Network (IHIN) is now called CyncHealth. Please visit the CyncHealth web site for more information: https://cynchealth.org/contact-cync/