May Newsletter
By Jim Tate, EMR Advocate and Meaningful Use Audit Expert
Twitter: @JimTate
eMail: audits@emradvocate.com
Website: www.meaningfuluseaudits.com
Meaningful Use Audits Will Continue and Expand
Over the last couple of months I’ve spent a good deal of time talking with, and listening to, hospital CIOs on who have experienced an audits of their hospital’s meaningful use incentives. Here is what they are telling me:
1. Audits that have been failed often appear to lead to second audit on an an earlier meaningful use attestation.
2. The majority of failed audits seem to occur either for lack of having adequate documentation of the MU measures, proof of exclusion validity, or the Security Risk Analysis.
3. The focus continues to shift toward pre-payment audits. In the past several months a large wave of “limited” audits have been initiated, frequently asking for one thing, documentation of certified technology.
4. Documentation used in support of a meaningful use attestation should be saved for 6 years. Saving this documentation is especially critical as I’m expecting we will see more and more of “look back” audits based on what is revealed during an initial audit.
I’ve discussed in length the value of taking a proactive approach to avoid or mitigate an audit by performing a mock audit. Our Mock Audit Services mimics the CMS auditor’s process and also includes a review of your Security Risk Analysis, a red flag for audit concerns.
If you are interested in learning more about conducting a mock audit for your organization, please contact me at audits@emradvocate.com.
