Meaningful use is expected to remain the top priority of the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT in 2012, according to recent comments from the agency's head.

National coordinator Farzad Mostashari said at the meeting of the Health IT Policy Committee that federal efforts will continue to stress the adoption of EHRs among more providers and to support the efforts of these physicians to use the technology in meaningful ways, according to Government Health IT.

"We're going to do everything we can to ensure that every provider can be successful at meaningful use," Mostashari said, quoted by the news source. "Vendors and providers are going to be asked to step up to the challenge - and it is a challenge. But, it's a challenge well worth meeting. In 2012, meaningful use will soar."

He added that efforts to develop interoperability standards will also figure largely in the months ahead.

In fact, the agency has previously stated that higher standards of information exchange are likely to be incorporated into the second round of meaningful use rules, which are due to be released later this year.