Question FAQ #7729: To meet the third measure of the objective of providing “a summary of care record for each transition of care or referral” for the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs, must the electronic exchange with a recipient using technology designed by a different EHR developer occur for each provider or can there be one exchange per location? What if the provider chooses instead to exchange information with the CMS test EHR?
Updated Answer: If a summary of care record used for an actual transition of care or referral is electronically exchanged with a recipient who has EHR technology that was developed designed by a different EHR technology developer than the sender’s EHR technology, then that exchange can be considered to have met the third measure of the objective for all providers involved in that transition of care and referral using the same Certified EHR Technology. Read the complete answer here.
Question FAQ #10692: I am an eligible professional (EP) who has successfully attested for the Medicare Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Program, so why haven’t I received my incentive payment yet?
Updated Answer: For EPs, incentive payments for the Medicare EHR Incentive Program will be made approximately four to eight weeks after an EP successfully attests that they have demonstrated meaningful use of certified EHR technology. However, EPs will not receive incentive payments within that time frame if they have not yet met the threshold for allowed charges for covered professional services furnished by the EP during the year. Read the complete answer here.
Question FAQ #2901: After successfully demonstrating meaningful use for the EHR Incentive Program, will incentive payments be paid as a lump sum or in multiple installments?
Updated Answer: EPs participating in the Medicare EHR Incentive Program will receive a single lump sum payment for each year they successfully demonstrate meaningful use of certified EHR technology no later than the end of the calendar year following the year in which the EP was eligible for the bonus payment. Eligible hospitals and critical access hospitals (CAHs) participating in the Medicare EHR Incentive Program will first receive an initial payment. The final payment will be determined at the time of settling the hospital cost report. Payments to Medicare providers will be made to the taxpayer identification number (TIN) selected at the time of registration, through the same channels their claims payments are made. However, for EPs practicing in a health professional shortage area (HPSA), the additional incentive payment will be paid separately to the same TIN as the incentive payment. Read the complete answer here.
Question FAQ #10160: and when will incentive payments for the Medicare Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs be made?
Updated Answer: For eligible professionals (EPs), incentive payments for the Medicare EHR Incentive Program will be made approximately four to eight weeks after an EP successfully attests that they have demonstrated meaningful use of certified EHR technology. However, EPs will not receive incentive payments within that time frame if they have not yet met the threshold for allowed charges for covered professional services furnished by the EP during the year. Payments will be held until the EP meets the threshold in allowed charges for the calendar year ($24,000 in the EP’s first year) in order to maximize the amount of the EHR incentive payment they receive. Medicare EHR incentive payments are based on 75% of the estimated allowed charges for covered professional services furnished by the EP during the entire calendar year. If the EP has not met the threshold in allowed charges by the end of calendar year, CMS expects to issue an incentive payment for the EP in March of the following year (allowing two months after the end of the calendar year for all pending claims to be processed). Read the complete answer here.