Rule Allows Flexibility in Certified EHR Technology for 2014
In typical ONC and CMS fashion, the newest final rule for the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs was released just hours before they left for a long holiday weekend. In Friday’s press release, CMS Administrator Marilyn Tavenner states, “We listened to stakeholder feedback and provided CEHRT flexibility for 2014 to help ensure providers can continue to participate in the EHR Incentive Programs forward. We were excited to see that there is overwhelming support for this change.” The rule will be published in the Federal Register on 9/4/2014 but can be downloaded in PDF form until then.
The rule allows more flexibility in how certified electronic health record (EHR) technology (CEHRT) is used to meet meaningful use in the 2014 reporting period. Specifically, 2011 Edition CEHRT or a combination of 2011 and 2014 Edition CEHRT in 2014 will be able to be used moving the 2014 CEHRT requirement forward to 2015. The rule also finalizes the extension of Stage 2 through 2016 for certain providers and announces the Stage 3 timeline, which will begin in 2017 for providers who first became meaningful EHR users in 2011 or 2012.
And the industry as usual as wasted no time to comment and report.
- There are few things that side track Dr. Halamka from a holiday weekend, but this seems to one of them. Read his comment and concern in, New CMS rule allows flexibility in certified EHR technology for 2014, on his blog.
- Just an hour after the release, the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME) released their Statement on Finalization of Meaningful Use ‘Modifications’ Rule. Deeply disappointed, CHIME believes the rule lacks a “key provision that would ensure continued EHR adoption and MU participation.”
- Modern Healthcare reports on reactions for industry leaders from the American Hospital Association and athenahealth in Darius Tahir’s article, CMS finalizes EHR meaningful-use rule, adds some flexibility.
- Joseph Goedert writes in Health Data Management that Final Meaningful Use Rule Won’t Make Providers Happy.
