Guidance Issued March 10th 2014
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has issued guidance for eligible professionals, eligible hospitals and critical access hospitals that are unable to implement the 2014 Edition of Certified Electronic Health Record technology in time to successfully demonstrate meaningful use for the 2014 reporting year.
Download and read the guidance:
- 2014 CHERT Hardship Exception Guidance for Eligible Professionals, and
- 2014 CHERT Hardship Exception Guidance for Eligible Hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals.
Eligible Professionals
If you are an eligible professional, and you are unable to implement the 2014 Edition of Certified Electronic Health Record (EHR) Technology in time to successfully demonstrate meaningful use for the 2014 reporting year, you may be eligible for a hardship exception from the applicable Medicare payment adjustment.
- New Participants in 2014
- If you are new to the program and intended to demonstrate meaningful use for the first time in 2014, but you are not able to implement 2014 certified EHR technology for the 2014 reporting year, you may apply for a hardship exception for the 2015 payment adjustment.
- Use the eligible professional hardship exception form for 2015
- Indicate the reason you are applying for a hardship
- Select “2014 Vendor Issues”
- Submit your application by July 1, 2014
- If you are new to the program and intended to demonstrate meaningful use for the first time in 2014, but you are not able to implement 2014 certified EHR technology for the 2014 reporting year, you may apply for a hardship exception for the 2015 payment adjustment.
- Returning Meaningful Users in 2014
- If you successfully demonstrated meaningful use for the 2013 reporting year, you will not be subject to the 2015 payment adjustment. If you are not able to implement 2014 certified EHR technology for a 2014 reporting period, you may apply for a hardship exception for the 2016 payment adjustment.
- Use the eligible professional hardship exception form for 2016 which will be available after July 1, 2014
- Indicate the reason you are applying for a hardship
- Select “2014 Vendor Issues”
- Submit your application by July 1, 2015
- If you successfully demonstrated meaningful use for the 2013 reporting year, you will not be subject to the 2015 payment adjustment. If you are not able to implement 2014 certified EHR technology for a 2014 reporting period, you may apply for a hardship exception for the 2016 payment adjustment.
Eligible Hospitals
If you are an eligible hospital or a critical access hospital (CAH), and you are unable to implement EHR Technology certified to the 2014 edition certification criteria in time to successfully demonstrate meaningful use for the 2014 reporting year, you may be eligible for a hardship exception from the applicable Medicare payment adjustments.
- New Participants in 2014
- If you are new to the program and intended to demonstrate meaningful use for the first time in 2014, but you are not able to implement 2014 certified EHR technology for the 2014 reporting year, you may apply for a hardship exception for the 2015 payment adjustment.
- Use the eligible hospital hardship exception form for 2015
- Indicate the reason you are applying for a hardship
- Select “2014 Vendor Issues”
- Submit your application by April 1, 2014
- If you are new to the program and intended to demonstrate meaningful use for the first time in 2014, but you are not able to implement 2014 certified EHR technology for the 2014 reporting year, you may apply for a hardship exception for the 2015 payment adjustment.
- Returning Meaningful Users in 2014
- If you successfully demonstrated meaningful use for the 2013 reporting year, you will not be subject to the 2015 payment adjustment. If you are not able to implement 2014 certified EHR technology for a 2014 reporting period, you may apply for a hardship exception for the 2016 payment adjustment.
- Use the eligible hospital hardship exception form for 2016 which will be available after April 1, 2014
- Indicate the reason you are applying for a hardship
- Select “2014 Vendor Issues”
- Submit your application by April 1, 2015
- If you successfully demonstrated meaningful use for the 2013 reporting year, you will not be subject to the 2015 payment adjustment. If you are not able to implement 2014 certified EHR technology for a 2014 reporting period, you may apply for a hardship exception for the 2016 payment adjustment.