Deadline for Meaningful Use of Electronic Health Records Delayed
Today's post is authored by FHW member Suzanne D. Nolan
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is taking two steps to make it easier for eligible professionals, such as physicians, dentists, oral surgeons, optometrists, podiatrists and chiropractors, to meet the requirements for Meaningful Use of Electronic Health Records (EHRs) and thus qualify for Medicare EHR incentive payments.
First, HHS is delaying the start of Stage 2 Meaningful Use of EHRs from 2013 to 2014 for eligible professionals who attest to meeting the Stage 1 Meaningful Use requirements for calendar year 2011. Many eligible professionals were waiting until 2012 to attest to Stage 1 Meaningful Use out of concern they would not be able to meet the Stage 2 Meaningful Use requirements in 2013 which would reduce the incentive payments for which they could qualify. With the extension, eligible professionals who attest to Stage 1 Meaningful Use for 2011 by the February 29, 2012 deadline can qualify for incentive payments for 2011 as well as payments for 2012 and have until 2014 to qualify for Stage 2.
Second, as another inducement to adopt EHRs, HHS also announced that it is providing education and training to eligible professionals who have registered in the Medicare EHR Incentive Program but have not yet met Meaningful Use requirements.
There is also a Medicaid EHR Incentive Program in which eligible professionals who furnish at least thirty percent of their services to Medicaid patients can participate, if they are not participating in the Medicare EHR Incentive Program. By taking appropriate steps prior to the end of the year, eligible professionals who wish to participate in the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program may be able to qualify for a Medicaid incentive payment. The Medicaid EHR Incentive Program does not require eligible professionals to meet meaningful use requirements in their first year of participation and thus it may be easier for professionals to qualify for incentive payments under this program.
Providers with questions about implementing EHR systems should contact Sue Nolan at (248) 952-0400.
