Pedaling Backwards to Move Forwards

If you guessed that this post was about the most recently released proposed rule on Meaningful Use, you would be correct (The hashtag may have helped).

The key to the whole rule is summed up nicely in one table, which I reproduce below:

If you were scheduled to demonstrate:	You would be able to attest for Meaningful Use:
	Using 2011 Edition CEHRT to do:	Using 2011 & 2014  Edition CEHRT to do:	Using 2014 Edition  CEHRT to do:
Stage 1 in 2014	2013 Stage 1 objectives and measures*	2013 Stage 1 objectives and measures*                 -OR- 2014 Stage 1 objectives and measures*	2014 Stage 1 objectives and measures
Stage 2 in 2014	2013 Stage 1 objectives and measures*	2013 Stage 1 objectives and measures*                 -OR- 2014 Stage 1 objectives and measures*                -OR- Stage 2 objectives and measures*	2014 Stage 1 objectives and measures*                  -OR- Stage 2 objectives and measures

*Only providers that could not fully implement 2014 Edition CEHRT for the reporting period in 2014 due to delays in 2014 Edition CEHRT availability.
While I could have said I told you so about crazy deadlines, I always understood that the deadlines for meaningful use stages weren't ONC's to control, but were rather set by Congress.
What I'm hoping that we all learn is that MU should be using standards that are ready for prime time, and should set the bar at the right place for success.  If we want to promote use of new standards, maybe that should be a menu option, and there should be a way to those who pilot test new standards that ONC wants to see used a way to certify based on pilot testing rather than lab testing.
I can tell you based on any pilots I've been part of, that pilot testing is certainly a higher bar than any lab-based testing I've seen for Meaningful Use or any other standards program.