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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has extended the attestation deadline for the Medicare Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Program. Eligible professionals (EPs) who plan to participate now have until 11:59 pm ET on March 20, 2015 to attest to meaningful use for the 2014 reporting year.
CMS urges EPs to begin the process as soon as possible. The extension allows EPs who have not previously switched from the Medicare to the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program or vice versa to make that switch through March 20. This extension is only for the Medicare EHR incentive program and does not affect the deadlines for the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program.
As a result of ASA’s advocacy efforts, CMS created a hardship exemption for anesthesiologists, which exempts anesthesiologists from the payment penalties that will begin in 2015. As the hardship exemption applies only to the penalties, anesthesiologists may attempt to become meaningful users and receive incentives.
Additional questions about the EHR Incentive Program?
ASA offers information about the program online. CMS and ONC have made several reference tools available to guide you through the initial assessment stages. For a general overview of the EHR Incentive Program, including eligibility requirements, important dates and program incentives, please visit the CMS website. ONC provides information on EHRs for practices and physicians regarding the Health Information Technology certification process and questions on interoperability.
For additional information, please contact the ASA Department of Quality and Regulatory Affairs (QRA) at [email protected] or 202-289-2222.
