Earlier this year, CMS and the ONC released a proposed bill for the EHR Incentive Programs.  In August of 2014 they finalized this bill.  If you have a spare hour or two, and want to read the bill, click here.

To help clear up any confusion over which certification year (2011 or 2014) a practice should use,  CMS has created a Quick Reference Guide that helps to clear up any questions you may have about what to do this year.  Time is ticking by, and realistically if a practice hasn't started its reporting quarter, October 3rd would be the final date to start.

Remember-2014 is the LAST year an EP can begin to receive incentives.  As stated in the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act, no incentives can be paid to Medicare EPs that begin MU after 2014.  EPs that start MU in 2014 could still earn as much as $24,000 in incentives if they demonstrate MU from 2014 through 2016.

2014 meaningful use performance is the basis for 2016 Medicare payment adjustments. For EPs this potentially means a -2% reduction to the Medicare physician fee schedule (PFS) amount for covered professional services furnished by the EP during 2016 (EP tip sheet). The payment adjustment calculation for EHs and CAHs is a little more complicated and different for each. 

Here’s a link to CMS’ EH/CAH tip sheet.

-Kelly Meeks
www.sunrize.com