Steps for Meaningful Use

Steps for Meaningful Use Testing and Submission to Michigan Public Health Systems

Stage 1:

  1. Consult the Statement on the Availability of Public Health Systems to Conduct Meaningful Use Testing available at the end of this page (last updated on 9/20/2012).
  2. Three public health systems are available for testing. Download the appropriate specifications guide.
  3. Use the link below to “Register for Meaningful Use Public Health Testing.”
  4. After MDCH receives your online registration, you will be contacted and given further details on the meaningful use (MU) testing process.
    • Upon receipt, your online registration will be placed into a queue. Testing priority is based upon (1) your agency’s reporting period and (2) the order in which online registrations are received. Due to current testing volumes, please allow at least two weeks for a response. An email with test message submission instructions will be sent to the “Site Contact Person”
  5. Submit your MU test messages.
    • The State of Michigan validates test messages ahead of and during 90-day attestation reporting periods. To allow time to address any unforeseen problems, your test messages should be submitted at least a month before the end of your 90-day attestation reporting period, and preferably well in advance of the beginning of the period. You cannot test after the final day of your 90-day reporting period.
  6. After your organization has submitted a test message and has begun the follow-up submission process, MDCH will send a confirmation letter for your MU records.
  7. If you have any questions regarding MU testing with Michigan Public Health Systems, please contact: DCHPublicHealthMU@michigan.gov.
  8. MDCH is required to declare the readiness of each of its public health systems and registries to receive electronic submissions of clinical data for Stage 2 of Meaningful Use. CMS intends to develop a centralized list (“CMS repository”) of this readiness information that covers all 50 states. If MDCH fails to declare its capability for a given system in the CMS repository prior to the EHR reporting period, the provider may claim an exclusion from the relevant measure. MCIR, MDSS, and MSSS intend to declare their readiness when the CMS repository is available. Until then, EPs and EHs must consult the Statement on the Availability of Public Health Systems to Conduct Meaningful Use Testing, below, to determine their eligibility for exclusion. EPs and EHs are required to check the CMS repository within 60 days of the start of their Stage 2 EHR reporting period. If the registry with which they wish to initiate ongoing submission is not ready to receive data, the provider may claim an exclusion from the relevant measure.
  9. EPs and EHs must register their intent to move to Ongoing Submission with the appropriate public health registry within 60 days of the start of their Stage 2 EHR reporting period. Failure to do so will result in failing the relevant Stage 2 MU measure.
  10. If a public health agency sends a written request for movement toward ongoing submission, an EP or EH must respond within 30 days. Failure to do so, on two separate occasions, will result in failing the relevant Stage 2 Meaningful Use measure.
  11. Detailed instructions for Stage 2 registration of intent to move to ongoing submission will be available soon.
  12. In the event that CMS does not have the aforementioned Public Health Readiness repository established by August 1, 2013, please refer to the “Statement on the Availability of Public Health Systems to Conduct Meaningful Use Testing” using the link below.