Eligible Professionals: Deadline to Submit Hardship Exception Applications Approaching

Eligible Professionals Must Submit Hardship Exception Applications by July 1, 2014

 

Are you a Medicare provider who was unable to successfully demonstrate meaningful use for 2013? CMS is accepting applications for hardship exceptions to avoid the upcoming Medicare payment adjustment for the 2015 reporting year.

 

Payment adjustments for the Medicare EHR Incentive Program will begin on January 1, 2015 for eligible professionals.

 

However, you can avoid the adjustment by completing a hardship exception application and providing supporting documentation that proves demonstrating meaningful use would be a significant hardship for you. CMS will review applications to determine whether or not you are granted a hardship exception.

 

CMS has posted hardship exception applications on the EHR website for:

• Eligible professionals


• Eligible professionals submitting multiple National Provider Identifiers (NPIs)

Applications for the 2015 payment adjustments are due July 1, 2014 for eligible professionals.  If approved, the exception is valid for one year.

 

New Hardship Exception Tipsheets

You can also avoid payment adjustments by successfully demonstrating meaningful use prior to the payment adjustment. Tipsheets are available on the CMS website that outline when eligible professionals must demonstrate meaningful use in order to avoid the payment adjustments.

 

Want more information about the EHR Incentive Programs?

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

CMS NPRM - EHR Certification Flexibility for 2014; Extends Stage 2

CMS and ONC Release NPRM Allowing CEHRT Flexibility and Extending Stage 2

 

Today, CMS and ONC released a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that would allow providers participating in the EHR Incentive Programs to use the 2011 Edition of certified electronic health record technology (CEHRT) for calendar and fiscal year 2014. 

 

The NPRM will grant flexibility to providers who are experiencing difficulties fully implementing 2014 Edition CEHRT to attest this year. The proposed rule would allow providers to use EHRs that have been certified under the 2011 Edition, a combination of the 2011 and 2014 Editions, or the 2014 Edition.

 

Beginning in 2015, all eligible providers would be required to report using 2014 Edition CEHRT.

 

2014 Participation Options

Under this proposal, valid only for the 2014 reporting year, providers would be able to use 2011 Edition CEHRT for either Stage 1 or Stage 2, would have the option to attest to the 2013 definition of meaningful use core and menu objectives, and use the 2013 definition CQMs.

 

Providers currently working on Stage 1 in 2014 would be able to demonstrate:

• Stage 1 (2013 Definition) using 2011 Edition CEHRT, or using a combination of 2011 and 2014 Edition CEHRT; or


• Stage 1 (2014+ Definition) using 2014 Edition CEHRT.

Providers currently working on Stage 2 in 2014 would be able to demonstrate:

• Stage 1 (2013 Definition) using 2011 Edition CEHRT, or using a combination of 2011 and 2014 Edition CEHRT;


• Stage 1 (2014+ Definition) using 2014 Edition CEHRT; or


• Stage 2 (2014+ Definition) using 2014 Edition CEHRT.

Extending Stage 2

The proposed rule also includes a provision that would formalize CMS and ONC’s recommended timeline to extend Stage 2 through 2016. If finalized, the earliest a provider would participate in Stage 3 of meaningful use would be 2017.

For More Information

Visit the CMS Newsroom to read the press release about the NPRM.

Reminder: Join CMS on 5/29 to Learn More about Stage 2

Register for the May 29th National Provider Call on 2014 Stage 2 Meaningful Use for Eligible Professionals

 

Are you an eligible professional participating in Stage 2 of Meaningful Use? Join CMS on May 29 from 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. ET for a National Provider Call to learn more about Stage 2 requirements, reporting options, and data submission processes for eligible professionals in 2014.

 

The call will include detailed information for eligible professionals who are required to meet Stage 2 criteria in 2014 on completion of at least two program years under Stage 1 of meaningful use in the EHR Incentive Programs.

 

CMS experts will answer questions submitted prior to the call as well as respond to participant questions during a live Q&A session.  Please email your questions no later than May 21 to be considered.

Agenda

The following topics will be discussed on the call:

• Overview of Stage 2 of Meaningful Use


• Reporting


• Data Submission


• Answers to Submitted Questions


• Live Q&A Session

A link to the slide presentation will be posted to prior to the call.

 

Registration

To register for this MLN Connects National Provider Call, please visit the CMS MLN Connects Upcoming Calls registration website. Registration will close at 12:00 p.m. ET on the day of the call or when available space has been filled; no exceptions will be made, so please register early.

 

More Information

Visit the Stage 2 page to learn more.

 

Want more information about the EHR Incentive Programs?

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

Stage 2 Attestation User Guides Now Available

Review Steps for Submitting Stage 2 Meaningful Use Data through the Attestation System

 

Are you preparing to submit Stage 2 meaningful use data for the Medicare EHR Incentive Program? If so, CMS has recently posted the following step-by-step guides to help navigate the CMS Attestation System:

• Stage 2 Attestation User Guide for Eligible Professionals


• Stage 2 Attestation User Guide for Eligible Hospitals and CAHs

These guides provide instructions and important information that you will need in order to successfully attest, as well as helpful tips and screenshots to walk you through the process.

Note: While all providers begin their registration through the CMS Registration & Attestation System, Medicaid eligible professionals and Medicaid-only eligible hospitals must attest through their State Medicaid Agency’s website. Please visit the Medicaid State Information pageto learn more.

 

Additional Stage 2 Resources

CMS has additional resources to help ensure your attestation will be successful:

• Stage 2 Attestation Worksheet for Eligible Professionals


• Stage 2 Attestation Worksheet for Eligible Hospitals and CAHs


• Stage 2 Meaningful Use Specification Sheet Table of Contents for Eligible Professionals


• Stage 2 Meaningful Use Specification Sheet Table of Contents for Eligible Hospitals and CAHs

For More Information

Visit the Registration and Attestation and Stage 2 pages for more information on how to successfully demonstrate meaningful use.

Join CMS on 5/29 to Learn More about Stage 2

Register for the May 29th National Provider Call on 2014 Stage 2 Meaningful Use for Eligible Professionals

 

Are you an eligible professional participating in Stage 2 Meaningful Use? Join CMS on May 29 from 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. ET for a National Provider Call to learn more about Stage 2 requirements, reporting options, and data submission processes for eligible professionals in 2014.

 

The call will include detailed information for eligible professionals who are required to meet Stage 2 criteria in 2014 on completion of at least two program years under Stage 1 of Meaningful Use in the Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs.

 

CMS experts will answer questions submitted prior to the call as well as respond to participant questions during a live Q&A session.  Please email your questions no later than May 21 to be considered.

 

Agenda

The following topics will be discussed on the call:

• Overview of Stage 2 of Meaningful Use


• Reporting


• Data Submission


• Answers to Submitted Questions


• Live Q&A Session

A link to the slide presentation will be posted to prior to the call.

 

Registration

To register for this MLN Connects National Provider Call, please visit the CMS MLN Connects Upcoming Calls registration website. Registration will close at 12:00 p.m. ET on the day of the call or when available space has been filled; no exceptions will be made, so please register early.

 

More Information

Visit the Stage 2 page to learn more.

 

Want more information about the EHR Incentive Programs?

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

Reminder: EHR Hardship Exception Applications for Eligible Professionals

Eligible Professionals Must Submit Hardship Exception Applications by July 1, 2014

Are you a Medicare provider who was unable to successfully demonstrate meaningful use for 2013 due to circumstances beyond your control? CMS is accepting applications for hardship exceptions to avoid the upcoming Medicare payment adjustment for the 2013 reporting year.

 

Payment adjustments for the Medicare EHR Incentive Program will begin on January 1, 2015 for eligible professionals.

 

However, you can avoid the adjustment by completing a hardship exception application and providing supporting documentation that proves demonstrating meaningful use would be a significant hardship for you. CMS will review applications to determine whether or not you are granted a hardship exception.

 

CMS has posted hardship exception applications on the EHR website for:

• Eligible professionals


• Eligible professionals submitting multiple National Provider Identifiers (NPIs)

Applications for the 2015 payment adjustments are due July 1, 2014 for eligible professionals.  If approved, the exception is valid for one year.

 

New Hardship Exception Tipsheets

You can also avoid payment adjustments by successfully demonstrating meaningful use prior to the payment adjustment. Tipsheets are available on the CMS website that outline when eligible professionals must demonstrate meaningful use in order to avoid the payment adjustments.

 

Want more information about the EHR Incentive Programs?

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