Lost in the long list of technical requirements involved in the meaningful use rules is a mandate to give patients access to their information through an online portal. While this may not seem like the most consequential regulation, some are saying that it can have a dramatic impact on the quality of care delivered by a practice.

Patients are already beginning to communicate with their physicians electronically. Dr. Patrick Golden, who operates a practice in Fresno, California, recently wrote for DOTmed News that he had been receiving emails from patients about their conditions long before the meaningful use program came along.

However, his efforts to launch a patient portal allowed him to make these communications more efficient and secure.

"The program’s requirement of having a portal for patients to engage their care providers has changed the way we deliver healthcare," he wrote. "The portal has simplified communication with our patients and improved efficiencies for all of us."

The ONC says that patient portals empower individuals to become more involved in their own care, which may lead to better outcomes and lower costs.