Attestation Deadline for Hospitals Participating in EHR Incentive Program.
The Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) sent a reminder that September 30 marked the last day of the meaningful use program year. Eligible hospitals and critical access hospitals participating in the Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs have until November 30 to attest to demonstrating meaningful use of data collected during the FY 2013 reporting period. Hospitals are required to attest to meaningful use on a yearly basis to receive an incentive and avoid payment adjustment. Hospitals participating in Medicaid EHR incentive program must comply with their state deadlines for attestation.
CMS also notes the following milestones that will occur for eligible hospitals as of October 1, 2013:
- Begin Stage 2 of the meaningful use program for eligible hospitals that have completed at least 2 years of Stage 1.
- Reduced EHR incentive payment for hospitals that begin participation in the meaningful use program in 2014 and later.
- Begin a 3 month reporting period starting in 2014 to provide more time for hospitals to upgrade to 2014 certified EHR technology.
Beginning October 1, 2014, Medicare will apply payment adjustments to eligible hospitals that have not successfully demonstrated meaningful use.
Important dates for the EHR Incentive Programs on the health information technology timeline are available at:
The Medicare Learning Network announcement on the meaningful use program is available at:
http://www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/Outreach/FFSProvPartProg/Downloads/2013-09-19-enews.pdf.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. “EHR Hospital Reporting for 2013 Ends on September 30: Begin Preparing for Attestation.” Medicare Learning Network Connects Provider eNews. 19 Sep. 2013.
