Health Information Management

CMS, ONC finalize changes to the EHR Incentive Programs

HIM-HIPAA Insider, September 8, 2014

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by Jaclyn Fitzgerald, Editor

 
CMS and ONC recently released a final rule that offers enhanced flexibility for eligible professionals, eligible hospitals, and critical access hospitals using certified EHR technology (CEHRT) and working toward meaningful use attestation.
 
Providers who cannot fully implement 2014 CEHRT are permitted to use the 2011 edition CEHRT, a combination of 2011 and 2014 editions, or the 2014 edition for the 2014 EHR Meaningful Use reporting period. These providers are required to attest to their inability to adopt 2014 edition CEHRT if they select one of these options. The final rule also sets requirements for reporting meaningful use objectives, measures, and clinical quality measures based on the CEHRT option a provider selects for the 2014 reporting period.
 
Providers would still be required to use the 2014 edition of CEHRT through calendar and fiscal years 2015 and beyond. The rule extends the timeline for Stage 2 Meaningful Use through 2016, which means the earliest providers could attest to Stage 3 would be in 2017.
 
CMS designed several resources to clarify changes to 2014 participation, including:
 
The final rule regulations are effective October 1, 2014. Learn more about CMS’ EHR Incentive Programs.

 



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