|
Want information about the federal EHR Incentive Programs? Make sure to visit
the EHR Incentive
Programs website for the latest news and updates on the federal EHR Incentive
Programs.
Hardship Exception
Applications
to Avoid the 2015 Medicare Payment Adjustment
Due November 30, 2014
CMS reopened the submission period
for hardship exception applications for eligible professionals and eligible hospitals
to avoid the 2015 Medicare payment adjustments for not demonstrating meaningful
use of Certified Electronic Health Record Technology (CEHRT). The new deadline
is 11:59 PM EST November 30, 2014.
Eligible professionals and eligible hospitals that have never met meaningful
use before may apply during this reopened hardship exception application submission
period if they meet both of the following:
- The provider was unable to attest by July 1, 2014 (for eligible hospitals)
or October 1, 2014 (for eligible professionals); AND
- The provider has been unable to fully implement 2014 Edition CEHRT by the
dates above due to delays in 2014 Edition CEHRT availability.
 These
are the only circumstances that will be considered for this reopened hardship
exception application submission period.
Applications Details
Providers who would like to submit an application should review the following
guidance:
- The application is available on the Payment Adjustments and Hardship Exceptions
webpage.
- The completed application must be attached to an email and sent to ehrhardship@provider-resources.com.
- For eligible professionals without Internet connectivity, submit this application
and all supporting documentation via fax to 814-464-0147.
- Submit the application no later than 11:59 PM EST November 30, 2014.
More Information
Visit the Payment Adjustments and Hardship Exceptions webpage for more information
about Medicare EHR Incentive Program payment adjustments.
Learn How to Avoid
2015 EHR Payment Adjustments
IMPORTANT PAYMENT
ADJUSTMENT INFORMATION FOR MEDICARE EPS Eligible professionals (EPs)
participating in the Medicare EHR Incentive Program may be subject to payment
adjustments beginning on January 1, 2015. CMS will determine the payment adjustment
based on meaningful use data submitted prior to the 2015 calendar year. EPs
must demonstrate meaningful use prior to 2015 to avoid payment adjustments.
To determine how your EHR Incentive Program participation start year
will affect the 2015 payment adjustments:
If you began in 2011 or 2012...
If you first demonstrated meaningful use in 2011 or 2012, you must demonstrate
meaningful use for a full year in 2013 to avoid the payment adjustment in 2015.
If you began in 2013...
If you first demonstrate meaningful use in 2013, you must demonstrate meaningful
use for a 90-day reporting period in 2013 to avoid the payment adjustment in
2015.
If you plan to begin in 2014...
If you first demonstrate meaningful use in 2014, you must demonstrate meaningful
use for a 90-day reporting period in 2014 to avoid the payment adjustment in
2015. This reporting period must occur in the first 9 months of calendar year
2014, and EPs must attest to meaningful use no later than October 1, 2014, to
avoid the payment adjustment.
Avoiding Payment Adjustments in the Future
You must continue to demonstrate meaningful use every year to avoid
payment adjustments in subsequent years.
If you are eligible to participate in both the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive
Programs, you MUST demonstrate meaningful use to avoid the payment adjustments.
You may demonstrate meaningful use under either Medicare or Medicaid.
If you are only eligible to participate in the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program,
you are not subject to these payment adjustments.
Helpful Resources
For more information on EP payment adjustments, view the Payment
Adjustments and Hardship Exceptions Tipsheet for EPs.
Before registering, download this helpful step-by-step guide for the NLR (CMS)
Registration:
Medicare
& Medicaid EHR Incentive Program Registration User Guide for Eligible Professionals
Registration for Medicare and Medi-Cal Incentive Program:
All providers, even those submitting for the Medi-Cal incentive program, must
first register for the EHR incentive program at the
CMS website.
To
register and attest for the Medicare EHR Incentive, go here: Medicare
& Medicaid EHR Incentive Program Registration and Attestation System
To
complete the NLR (CMS) Registration for the Medi-Cal EHR Incentive, go here:
Medicare
& Medicaid EHR Incentive Program Registration and Attestation System
To
complete the State Level Registry (Medi-Cal) Registration for the Medi-Cal EHR
Incentive, go here: SLR
for the Medi-Cal EHR Incentive Program and click on "Create an SLR Account".
Physician practices who meet the "group" or "clinic" threshold
eligibility are encouraged to create their group account in the SLR as
soon as possible to ensure that when a provider affiliated
with a group or clinic registers they can link to your group.
Groups registering at Medi-Cal must include the name and NPI number of every
provider who contributed visits to the Medi-Cal eligibility in the reporting
period. Group registration is at the state (Medi-Cal) level; assignment of incentive
payment is at the national (CMS) level. More information can be found on the
Medi-Cal website
homepage under "Downloadable Resources" in their right column,
under the "Group/Clinic" section, including the following:
Group/Clinic
Quick Start Guide
State
Level Registry (SLR) Quick Start Guide For Providers
Provider
Quick Start Guide
State
Level Registry (SLR) Quick Start Guide For Provider Proxys
Provider
Proxy Quick Start Guide
For
GROUP registration, select the "Group Representative" (follow the appropriate
"Quick Start Guide" above).
For PROXY registration, select "Proxy Representative" (follow
the appropriate "Quick Start Guide" above).
For PROVIDER registration, select "Professional" (follow the appropriate
"Quick Start Guide" above).
|
|
 |
|
