Physician Practice

EHR Incentive Program Stage 3 Tipsheets, Worksheets, and Alternate Exclusions and Specification guidelines

Physician Practice Insider, December 15, 2015

CMS has released additional resources to assist eligible professionals (EP) participating in its EHR Incentive Programs. These documents will help EPs better understand and apply the program’s objectives and measurements to their practice, according to CMS. Other new documents contain information on changes that were made to the program for 2015.

The new resources include:

The tipsheet provides a summary of the program’s objectives and measurements, an outline of the reporting period, and a summary of payment adjustments and attestation deadlines. The Attestation Worksheet breaks down meaningful use requirements in a checklist that EPs can use to track their progress. There are 10 objectives for 2015 to 2017, including providing the capability for patients to send and receive secure messages from their physician, providing patients electronic access to their health information, and electronic prescribing of medications. Some objectives have two or more measurements that must be met to be completed. EPs should compare these to CMS’ list of alternate exclusions and specifications, also included on the worksheet, to determine whether any apply to them.

The public comment period for Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs Stage 3 final rule is in its final hours. Comments can be submitted until 11:59pm EST, December 15. The Stage 3 final rule was released October 6.

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