--- title: Several Changes to Stage 1 Meaningful Use Measures Begin This Year description: The Stage 2 rule EHR Incentive Programs included changes to the Stage 1 meaningful use objectives, measures, and exclusions for physicians. --- # Several Changes to Stage 1 Meaningful Use Measures Begin This Year By Kaitlyn Houseman on Jan 22, 2013 11:10:00 AM - [Facebook Share ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.revelemd.com%2Fnews%2Fbid%2F62495%2FSeveral-Changes-to-Stage-1-Meaningful-Use-Measures-Begin-This-Year) - [Twitter Tweet ](https://twitter.com/home?status=Several+Changes+to+Stage+1+Meaningful+Use+Measures+Begin+This+Year%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.revelemd.com%2Fnews%2Fbid%2F62495%2FSeveral-Changes-to-Stage-1-Meaningful-Use-Measures-Begin-This-Year) - [LinkedIn Share ](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.revelemd.com%2Fnews%2Fbid%2F62495%2FSeveral-Changes-to-Stage-1-Meaningful-Use-Measures-Begin-This-Year&title=Several%20Changes%20to%20Stage%201%20Meaningful%20Use%20Measures%20Begin%20This%20Year&summary=The+Stage+2+rule+EHR+Incentive+Programs+included+changes+to+the+Stage+1+meaningful+use+objectives%2C+measures%2C+and+exclusions+for+physicians.&source=) - [Pinterest Pin ](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.revelemd.com%2Fnews%2Fbid%2F62495%2FSeveral-Changes-to-Stage-1-Meaningful-Use-Measures-Begin-This-Year) - [Email Email ](mailto:?subject=Several%20Changes%20to%20Stage%201%20Meaningful%20Use%20Measures%20Begin%20This%20Year&body=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.revelemd.com%2Fnews%2Fbid%2F62495%2FSeveral-Changes-to-Stage-1-Meaningful-Use-Measures-Begin-This-Year) The Stage 2 rule for the Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs included changes to the Stage 1 meaningful use objectives, measures, and exclusions for eligible professionals (EPs), eligible hospitals, and critical access hospitals (CAHs). Some of these Stage 1 changes took effect on October 1, 2012, for eligible hospitals and CAHs, or January 1, 2013, for EPs. Several are optional, but others are required. **Stage 1 Changes and Timing:** **Computerized Physician Order Entry (CPOE)** **Change: **Addition of an alternative measure based on the total number of medication orders created during the EHR reporting period **Timing:** 2013 and onward **Change: **Revised the description of who can enter orders into the EHR and have it count as CPOE **Timing:** 2013 and onward (regardless of what stage of meaningful use the provider is attesting to) **Electronic Prescribing** **Change:** Additional exclusion to the objective for electronic prescribing for providers who are not within a 10 mile radius of a pharmacy that accepts electronic prescriptions **Timing:** 2013 and onward     **Record and Chart Changes in Vital Signs** **Change:** Age limit increased for recording blood pressure in patients from ages 2 to ages 3;  no age limit for height and weight **Timing: **Optional in** **2013; required starting in 2014 **Change:** Exclusion if the EP sees no patients 3 years or older, if all three vital signs are not relevant to their scope of practice, if height and weight are not relevant to their scope of practice, or if blood pressure is not relevant to their scope of practice **Timing: **Optional in 2013; required starting in 2014 **Public Health Reporting Objectives** **Change:** Require that providers perform at least one test of their certified EHR technology's capability to send data to public health agencies, except where prohibited **Timing:** Required in 2013 and onward (for all Stage 1 public health objectives) **Electronic Exchange of Key Clinical Information** **Change:** Objective for electronic exchange of key clinical information no longer required for Stage 1 for EPs, eligible hospitals, and CAHs **Timing:** No longer required in 2013 and onward For more details about each of these changes review the [Stage 1 Changes Tipsheet](http://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Legislation/EHRIncentivePrograms/Downloads/Stage1ChangesTipsheet.pdf). **Want more information about the EHR Incentive Programs?** Make sure to visit the [EHR Incentive Programs website](http://www.cms.gov/EHRIncentivePrograms) for the latest news and updates on the EHR Incentive Programs. - [Revenue Cycle](https://www.revelemd.com/news/topic/revenue-cycle) - [MIPS](https://www.revelemd.com/news/topic/mips) [PQRS Program Update - Extended Deadline to October 18th ](https://www.revelemd.com/news/bid/67940/PQRS-Program-Update-Extended-Deadline-to-October-18th) October 11, 2013 [eClinicalWorks Family Practice Customer Wins 2013 HIMSS Davies Award ](https://www.revelemd.com/news/bid/67393/eClinicalWorks-Family-Practice-Customer-Wins-2013-HIMSS-Davies-Award) September 17, 2013 [eClinicalWorks V10 Receives 2014 ONC HIT Certification ](https://www.revelemd.com/news/bid/66595/eclinicalworks-v10-receives-2014-onc-hit-certification) August 07, 2013 [eClinicalWorks PM System Selected By Large Hospital Network ](https://www.revelemd.com/news/bid/66353/eclinicalworks-pm-system-selected-by-large-hospital-network) July 25, 2013 ![CMS Update: Payment Adjustments Beginning January 1, 2015](https://www.revelemd.com/hs-fs/file-1510400834-jpg/images/mu_graph-jpeg_version.jpg) - [Revenue Cycle](https://www.revelemd.com/news/topic/revenue-cycle) - [MIPS](https://www.revelemd.com/news/topic/mips) [CMS Update: Payment Adjustments Beginning January 1, 2015 ](https://www.revelemd.com/news/bid/65273/CMS-Update-Payment-Adjustments-Beginning-January-1-2015) May 30, 2013 [**** Return to Blog**](https://www.revelemd.com/news) ## Join the 1,000+ healthcare professionals already receiving updates. ---