Source

Based on analysis of the EHR Products Used for Meaningful Use Attestation Public Use File, May 2014. This public use file updates monthly.

Citation

Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology. 'Medicare EHR Incentive Program: Medicare Professional Stage 1 Meaningful Use Attestation, 2011-2013,' Health IT Quick-Stat #32. https://www.healthit.gov/data/quickstats/medicare-professional-stage-1-meaningful-use-attestation. July 2014.

There are 392,800 providers eligible for the Medicare EHR Incentive Program. As of May 2014, approximately 67% had attested to meaningful use of a certified EHR through Medicare. Half of the Medicare-eligible providers attested in 2011 or 2012, and the vast majority (85%) returned in year 2. The rate of skipping year 2 is similar for providers that started in both 2011 and 2012 (15-16%).

The Public Use File used for this analysis only includes Medicare attestations and, therefore, does not capture instances where a health care professional switched from the Medicare program to the Medicaid program. Up to an estimated 1% of providers may be noted as “skipping” a year when in fact they switched from Medicare to Medicaid. Providers may also skip a year because they are no longer eligible for the program due to retirement, departure from active or ambulatory care practice, or other reasons.

Two-thirds of all Medicare-eligible providers had attested to meaningful use of a certified EHR by 2013

Quick Stat Graphic

Medicare EHR Incentive Program: Meaningful Use Attestation Participation and Return Rates
First Year of Attestation Year 1 Year 2 Skipped Year 2 Year 3 Skipped Year 2 and Returned for Year 3 Skipped Year 3
*% of those providers who attested to Meaningful Use in year 1, skipped year 2, and returned in year 3. ^Approximately 5.5k skipped years 2 and 3, and 5.4k skipped year 3 after participating in years 1 and 2
2011 58k 49k 9.5k (16%) 47k 4k (43%)* 11k^ (19%)
2012 139k 118k 21.5k (15%)      
2013 69k          

For a more detailed analysis of the professionals who first attested to Medicare meaningful use in 2011, see ONC Quick Stat #31.