CMS Issues More Answers to EHR Incentive Program Questions

Question: If an eligible provider fails to meet meaningful use during a participation year in the Medicare EHR Incentive Program, can he/she continue to participate and earn incentives?

Answer: An Eligible Professional (EP), Eligible Hospital or Critical Access Hospital (CAH) that participates in the Medicare EHR Incentive Program and does not meet MU for one participation year is highly encouraged to continue to attest and earn incentive payments for future participation years.

If a participating provider does not successfully attest for a given year, he/she will not be eligible to receive an incentive payment for that year. However, attesting and receiving an incentive payment for a future participation year is based on the provider’s ability to meet MU during that year and not based on success or failure in previous years. Read the complete answer.

Question: What is the deadline for EPs to submit attestations to meaningful use for 2013 in the EHR Incentive Programs?

Answer: EPs participate in the EHR Incentive Programs on the calendar year, which is January 1 to December 31. The attestation deadline is two months following the end of the 2013 reporting period.In order to receive an EHR incentive payment for an EHR reporting period in 2013, Medicare EPs) need to submit their attestation by 11:59 p.m. EST on February 28, 2014. Medicare EPs will not receive an incentive payment if they submit their attestation after the deadline. Read the complete answer.

Question: What is the deadline for eligible hospitals and CAHs to submit attestations to meaningful use for 2013 in the EHR Incentive Programs?

Answer: Eligible hospitals participate in the EHR Incentive Programs on the fiscal year, which is October 1 to September 30. The attestation deadline is two months following the end of the 2013 reporting period. In order to receive an EHR incentive payment for and EHR reporting period in 2013, Medicare eligible hospitals and CAHs need to submit their attestation by 11:59 p.m. EST on November 30, 2013. Medicare eligible hospitals and CAHs will not receive an incentive payment if they submit their attestation after the deadline. Read the complete answer.

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