Deadlines for Meaningful Use (MU) of electronic health records (EHRs) for 2015 incentive payments are quickly approaching. All electrodiagnostic medicine physicians who are not hospital based and treat Medicare and/or Medicaid patients are required to meet MU standards of at least Stage 1 by October 1, 2014. If this deadline is not met, a 1% reduction in Medicare reimbursement in 2015 will be imposed. The percentage grows with additional years, i.e., 2% in 2016.
To attest to MU by October 1, you must show continuous EHR usage for 90-days.
This means that first-time participants must begin their 90-day reporting period no later than July 1, 2014, to avoid payment adjustments in 2015.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) reminded physicians who did not attest to MU in 2013 that they have until July 1 of this year to apply for a hardship exemption, avoiding a financial penalty in 2015. Restrictions apply; please visit the
CMS website for more information.
“CMS has announced a proposed rule that the deadline to transition from Stage 1 to Stage 2 will likely be extended another year, due to slow delivery and implementation of 2014 Edition software,” said Carrie Winter, health policy manager. “If your facility is attempting to attest to Stage 2 this year and is having difficulties because of EHR issues, you should still apply for a hardship exemption citing this issue.”
For more information on MU regulations and guidance,
click here.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Carrie Winter, health policy manager, at
cwinter@aanem.org.