CMS Extends EHR Attestation Deadline for Medicare EPs and Eligible Hospitals

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 p.m. (ET) on March 13, 2017 to attest to meaningful use for the 2016 reporting year. CMS urges EPs to begin the process as soon as possible. 

Physician anesthesiologists with the Provider, Enrollment, Chain and Ownership System (PECOS) anesthesiology specialty designation of “05” have an automatic hardship exemption and do not need to complete a hardship exemption form. As a result of ASA’s advocacy efforts, CMS created a hardship exemption for physician anesthesiologists as a part of the Meaningful Use Stage 2 Final Rule in 2012. This exemption allows physician anesthesiologists to avoid the payment penalties that began in 2015.  

Please visit the ASA Quality and Regulatory Affairs website for more information regarding the EHR Incentive Program. Other materials related to the EHR Incentive Program (Meaningful Use) are located on CMS and ONC websites, including several reference tools to guide EPs through the initial assessment stages. 

For additional information, please contact the ASA Department of Quality and Regulatory Affairs (QRA) at (202) 289-2222 or via e-mail at [email protected].