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Get Involved – CMS potential EHR Incentive Changes for 2015

Notice from the CHUG Board:

Dear CHUG Members,

Are your providers tired, overworded and struggling to meet meaningful use measures? Have staff starting asking “What is the point”?

Yesterday CMS announced a potential EHR Incentive Program Change for 2015! These proposed changes will reduce program complexity and ease the administrative burden on physician practices.

The CHUG Board is strongly recommending that you DON’T WAIT – GET INVOLVED….if you did not respond before NOW IS THE TIME! Reach out to Congress and let your voice be heard. MGMA members can also use this link.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) intends to engage in rulemaking this spring to help ensure providers continue to meet meaningful use requirements.

In response to input from health care providers and other stakeholders, CMS is considering the following changes to the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs.

  1. Shortening the 2015 reporting period to 90 days to address provider concerns about their ability to fully deploy 2014 Edition software.
  2. Realigning hospital reporting periods to the calendar year to allow eligible hospitals more time to incorporate 2014 Edition software into their workflows and to better align with other quality programs.
  3. Modifying other aspects of the program to match long-term goals, reduce complexity, and lessen providers’ reporting burden.

Please note: these modifications must still be finalized through formal rulemaking, expected to occur this spring. While CMS intends to pursue these changes through rulemaking, they will NOT be included in the pending Stage 3 proposed rule. CMS intends to limit the scope of the pending proposed rule to Stage 3 and meaningful use in 2017 and beyond.

For further information, please read Dr. Conway’s blog on the announcement. For more information on the EHR Incentive programs visit CMS.

SAVE THE DATE: FALL CHUG Conference, New York Marriott Marquis in Times Square, New York City, October 1 – October 3, 2015