CMS Relents, Modifies MU Requirements
By Christine Kern, contributing writer
A shortened reporting time is among several of the modifications proposed.
CMS has announced it will be issuing updated rules governing the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs beginning in 2015. The blog post asserts these modifications are intended to help reduce the reporting burden on providers while supporting the long term goals of the program.
The anticipated modifications to the rules, in particular shortening the reporting period, seem to be in response to stakeholder response. The CMS blog states, “The new rule, expected this spring, would be intended to be responsive to provider concerns about software implementation, information exchange readiness, and other related concerns in 2015. It would also be intended to propose changes reflective of developments in the industry and progress toward program goals achieved since the program began in 2011.”
Among the modifications are a longer timeframe for hospitals to integrate 2014 EHR software, shorten the EHR reporting period to 90 days to accommodate changes, and to modify other aspects of the program (not specified) to “match long-term goals, reduce complexity, and lessen providers’ reporting burdens.”
“These changes reflect the Department of Health and Human Services’ commitment to creating a health information technology infrastructure that elevates patient-centered care, improves health outcomes and supports the providers who care for patients. We continuously strive to work in partnership with providers to improve affordability, access, and quality,” read the blog post.
As of November 1, only 43,898 eligible professionals and 1,903 eligible hospitals had attested to MU for the 2014 reporting period, out of 500,000 active registrants, according to data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Of those, only 1,478 eligible professionals and 840 eligible hospitals had attested for Stage 2. Health IT Outcomes additionally reported that a recent survey found the majority of providers will not accomplish Stage 2 Attestation for MU in 2015.
The American Medical Association (AMA) and College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME) have both urged changes in the attestation process, including the elimination of penalties and a shortened reporting period to help encourage the MU process and ease the burdens on healthcare providers, according to Health IT Outcomes. Making matters worse, CMS announced in December that it would penalize more than 257,000 physicians and other healthcare providers 1 percent of their pay in 2015 for failing to attest.
The vast majority of stakeholders in the healthcare industry are behind (and have been advocating heavily for) a 90-day reporting period, particularly CHIME, whose president and CEO, Russell Branzell, said after the recent reintroduction of the Flex-IT Act, “While CHIME remains committed to the success of MU, and to making sure improved patient care is the program's lasting legacy, we believe significant changes are needed to address increased dissatisfaction with EHRs and growing disenchantment with the program.”