“Patients want to share relevant health information with their provider and they want some control over their records,” said Mark Savage, director of health IT policy and programs for the National Partnership for Women and Families.

“This additional time should be used to strengthen the Meaningful Use program and ensure that it is designed and implemented in ways that meet the needs of patients and families across the nation and improve their healthcare experience,” Debra Ness, president of the National Partnership for Women and Families, said in prepared remarks.

“We recognize that the work is not simple or easy but at the same time, it is disappointing that, once again, patients and families will have to wait to realize many of the benefits of health IT,” says Debra Ness, president of the National Partnership for Women & Families.

“CMS should use the additional time associated with Stage 3 to revisit the recently withdrawn requirements to send patient reminders for preventive or follow-up care,” said Debra Ness, president of the National Partnership for Women & Families.