Comment Period for the Stage 2 Meaningful Use NPRM Ends in 11 Days

The Proposed Rule for Stage 2 Meaningful Use — Comment Period Ends on May 7

On March 7, 2012, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) posted the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) for Stage 2 meaningful use to the Federal Register. The proposed rule outlines the requirements for the next stage of the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs, which are administered by CMS. Take a look at the NPRM located in the Federal Register. 

The 60-day comment period for this NPRM ends on Monday, May 7, 2012. CMS welcomes your feedback on this rule. Visit the Regulations.gov comment page to comment on this rule. 

For more information:

• You can view the Stage 2 Corrections to this NPRM  (published April 18, 2012)


• CMS has developed an overview of the rule and how Stage 2 expands upon Stage 1 of meaningful use. You can view a slideshow of this overview and a fact sheet, which can be found on the CMS Newsroom website.


• A Microsoft Word version of the Stage 2 NPRM is also available.

Want more information about the EHR Incentive Programs?

Make sure to visit the EHR Incentive Programs website at http://www.cms.gov/EHRIncentivePrograms for the latest news and updates on the EHR Incentive Programs.

Updated FAQs Added to the EHR Website

CMS Has an Updated FAQ about Attesting with Multiple Certified EHRs

We want to help keep you updated with information on the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs. CMS has recently updated an FAQ on attesting with multiple certified EHRs. Take a minute and review the updated information below.

 

Question: For the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs, how should an eligible professional (EP), eligible hospital, or critical access hospital (CAH) that sees patients in multiple practice locations equipped with certified EHR technology calculate numerators and denominators for the meaningful use objectives and measures? 

 

Answer: EPs, eligible hospitals, and CAHs should look at the measure of each meaningful use objective to determine the appropriate calculation method for individual numerators and denominators.  The calculation of the numerator and denominator for each measure is explained in the July 28, 2010 final rule (75 FR 44314).

 

For objectives that require a simple count of actions (e.g., number of permissible prescriptions written, for the objective of "Generate and transmit permissible prescriptions electronically (eRx)"; number of patient requests for an electronic copy of their health information, for the objective of "Provide patients with an electronic copy of their health information"; etc.), EPs, eligible hospitals, and CAHs can add the numerators and denominators calculated by each certified EHR system in order to arrive at an accurate total for the numerator and denominator of the measure.

For objectives that require an action to be taken on behalf of a percentage of "unique patients" (e.g., the objectives of "Record demographics", "Record vital signs", etc.), EPs, eligible hospitals, and CAHs may also add the numerators and denominators calculated by each certified EHR system in order to arrive at an accurate total for the numerator and denominator of the measure. Previously CMS had advised providers to reconcile information so that they only reported unique patients. However, because it is not possible for providers to increase their overall percentage of actions taken by adding numerators and denominators from multiple systems, we now permit simple addition for all meaningful use objectives.

Please keep in mind that patients whose records are not maintained in certified EHR technology will need to be added to denominators whenever applicable in order to provide accurate numbers.

 

To report clinical quality measures, EPs who practice in multiple locations that are equipped with certified EHR technology should generate a report from each of those certified EHR systems and then add the numerators, denominators, and exclusions from each generated report in order to arrive at a number that reflects the total data output for patient encounters at those locations. To report clinical quality measures, eligible hospitals and CAHs that have multiple systems should generate a report from each of those certified EHR systems and then add the numerators, denominators, and exclusions from each generated report in order to arrive at a number that reflects the total data output for patient encounters in the relevant departments of the eligible hospital or CAH (e.g., inpatient or emergency department (POS 21 or 23)).

Website Update 

CMS is in the process of making upgrades to the www.CMS.gov website.  If you encounter problems accessing information while on the site, please try refreshing the page or check back later.  CMS is working to correct the site to ensure any issues are temporary.

Please also note that the EHR Incentive Programs’ FAQs were reorganized during the CMS.gov website upgrade. The EHR Incentive Programs’ FAQs are now incorporated in the same page as other CMS program FAQs. To navigate the EHR Incentive Program FAQs you must go to the FAQ page https://questions.cms.gov/, and click “Electronic Health Records Incentive Programs” on the blue navigation pane on the left-hand side.

We appreciate your understanding and apologize for any inconvenience.

 

Want more information about the EHR Incentive Programs?

Make sure to visit the EHR Incentive Programs website for the latest news and updates on the EHR Incentive Programs.

Louisiana Issues First Medicaid EHR Incentive Payment to EPs for Meaningful Use

Louisiana's Medicaid EHR Incentive Program First in Nation to Issue an Incentive Payment for Eligible Professionals for Meaningful Use

Louisiana is the first state in the nation to issue an incentive payment to a Medicaid eligible professional (EP) for demonstrating meaningful use of certified electronic health record (EHR) technology for the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program. The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals made the payment to the Winn Community Health Center, a federally qualified health center (FQHC), on behalf of three EPs. The Winn Community Health Center, a small rural community center staffed by a physician, a nurse practitioner, and a physician's assistant, was also the first FQHC in Louisiana to enroll with the state health information exchange (HIE).

 

Through the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program, EPs and eligible hospitals can receive a payment during their first year of participation for adopting, implementing, or upgrading to certified EHR technology. They must demonstrate meaningful use of certified EHR technology in ways that can be measured significantly in both quality and in quantity to receive continued payments after their first year. Medicaid EPs can earn a total of $63,000 over six years.

 

More than 76,000 providers have already received a Medicare or Medicaid EHR incentive payment for successfully adopting, implementing, upgrading, or demonstrating meaningful use of EHRs. Of the total providers paid, more than 30,000 of them participated in the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program.  As more Medicaid EPs begin their second year of the EHR Incentive Program and achieve meaningful use in 2012, thousands of additional providers will receive their EHR incentive payments. Visit the CMS YouTube page for stories from providers about their experiences with meaningful use.

 

Want more information about the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs?

Make sure to visit the EHR Incentive Programs website for the latest news and updates on the EHR Incentive Programs.

Common EHR Incentive Programs Registration Questions

Review Important Questions and Answers about Registration for the EHR Incentive Programs

After determining your eligibility for the Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs, you should then register as early as possible for the Medicare and/or Medicaid program. CMS’ EHR Information Center is open to assist the EHR provider community with registration and other program-related inquiries.

The center can be reached at 1-888-734-6433 (primary number) or 888-734-6563 (TTY number) from 7:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. (Central Time) Monday through Friday, except federal holidays. 

Here are a few of the Information Center’s most frequently asked questions about registration:

1. 
   
   Question: What information should I have ready before I begin the registration process?  
   
   
   Answer: When you register, you will need:
   
   
   
   
   • If you are registering as an eligible hospital or Medicare eligible professional, you will need an approved enrollment record in the Provider Enrollment, Chain and Ownership System (PECOS).  Medicaid eligible professionals are not required to be enrolled in PECOS. 
     
     
     
     • If you do not have a record in PECOS, you should still register for the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs. (Please note –your eligible hospital or Medicare eligible professional registration status will remain in an “issue pending” status until you have an active enrollment record in PECOS.)
     
     
     
     
   
   
   • A National Provider Identifier (NPI)
   
   
   • A National Plan and Provider Enumeration System Identity and Access Management ID and password for the individual provider
   
   
   • A Payee Tax Identification Number (if you are reassigning your benefits)
   
   
   • A Payee NPI (if you are reassigning your benefits)
   
   
   
   


2. 
   
   Question: Which option do I select when registering on behalf of an eligible professional in the Identity and Access Management System? 
   
   
   Answer: Click on “You are requesting to act on behalf of an individual provider.”


3. 
   
   Question: How can I check my registration status in the Registration and Attestation System? 
   
   
   Answer: Log in to the Registration and Attestation System and click the Status tab to view your registration information.


4. 
   
   Question: How do I re-submit my registration?  
   
   
   Answer: To re-submit a registration, you will need to:
   
   
   
   
   • Login to the EHR Incentive Program Registration and Attestation System;
   
   
   • Navigate to the Registration tab;
   
   
   • Select the Modify action for the registration;
   
   
   • Select the Personal Information registration topic; and
   
   
   • Save the updated payee information and submit the registration.
   
   
   
   

CMS provides helpful registration guides and resources on the Registration page of the EHR website. Additionally, FAQs about registration can be found on the FAQs page of the CMS website. 

Want more information about the EHR Incentive Programs?

Make sure to visit the EHR Incentive Programs website for the latest news and updates on the EHR Incentive Programs.

Review the Proposed Stage 2 Meaningful Use CQMs

CMS has Posted the Proposed CQMs under the Stage 2 NPRM on the CMS Website

CMS has posted the full set of proposed Clinical Quality Measures (CQMs) for 2014 as part of the Medicare and Medicaid Programs Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs Stage 2 Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM). The public can review the CQMs and submit feedback online. 

Proposed CQMs

The proposed CQMs are outlined in two tables that describe each measure and provide additional information for eligible professionals (EPs), eligible hospitals, and critical access hospitals (CAHs) beyond the descriptions listed on the National Quality Forum (NQF) website. 

Some of these measures are still in development; therefore, the descriptions provided in these tables may change before the final rule is published. When possible, links have been provided for measures that have corresponding information on the NQF website. If a measure does not have an NQF number, it means that measure has not yet been endorsed. 

Public Comment

Public comments regarding these measures should be submitted using the same method required for all comments related to the proposed rule. You can submit public comments online through the federal regulations website. 

The deadline for public comments relating to the proposed CQMs and other aspects of the Stage 2 NPRM is May 7, 2012. 

Want more information about the EHR Incentive Programs?

Make sure to visit the EHR Incentive Programs website at http://www.cms.gov/EHRIncentivePrograms for the latest news and updates on the EHR Incentive Programs.

Medicare EHR Incentive Programs Appeals Deadline Has Been Extended

CMS Announces Extension of Eligibility Appeals Deadline to April 30

CMS is extending the deadline for eligible professionals (EPs) to submit eligibility appeals under the Medicare Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs' 2011 payment year. The new deadline is April 30, 2012, giving EPs an extra month to file their appeals.  

 

An eligibility appeal allows a provider to show that all the requirements for the Medicare EHR Incentive Program were met and that he or she should have received a payment but could not because of circumstances outside of the provider's control. 

CMS affords providers with a two-level appeal process: an informal review and a request for reconsideration. Within the two-level appeal process, there are three types of appeals that can be filed in the Medicare EHR Incentive Program: (1) eligibility, (2) meaningful use, and (3) incentive payment appeals. 

Detailed guidance on the appeals process and additional information on all of the appeal types are available on the OCSQ website. 

Note: For general questions and for information on how to file an appeal, providers may contact Provider Resources, Inc., CMS' designated appeal support contractor, via phone between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday or via email. 

1.            Toll-free number: 855-796-1515 

2.            Email: OCSQAppeals@provider-resources.com 

Want more information about the EHR Incentive Programs?

Make sure to visit the EHR Incentive Programs website at http://www.cms.gov/EHRIncentivePrograms for the latest news and updates on the EHR Incentive Programs.