On January 29, 2015, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) announced its intent to engage in rulemaking to update the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record (“EHR”) Incentive Programs to shorten the Meaningful Use reporting period in 2015 to 90 days, among other things.
According to the CMS news release, CMS intends to implement the new rule this spring and is considering proposals to:
• Realign hospital reporting periods to the calendar year;
• Modify aspects of the Incentive Programs to reduce reporting burdens on providers; and
• Shorten the reporting period in 2015 to 90 days to accommodate the foregoing changes.
In connection with the announcement, CMS commented as follows: “Since the first year of the EHR Incentive Programs in 2011, the United States has seen unprecedented growth in the adoption and meaningful use of EHRs. To date, more than 400,000 eligible providers have joined the ranks of hospitals and professionals that have adopted or are meaningfully using EHRs. This means that millions of patients across the nation are benefiting from the potential of better coordinated care among professionals, more accurate prescribing, and improved communication.”
