Patient Portals, Public Health Measures and Stage 2 Timing
On Friday, August 29 CMS and ONC released the newest Final Rule allowing for more flexibility in how certified electronic health record 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 can be used this year, moving the 2014 CEHRT requirements forward to 2015. The rule also finalizes the extension of Stage 2 through 2016 for certain providers and moves the Stage 3 timeline to 2017 for providers who first became meaningful users of EHR technology in 2011 or 2012.
There are a number of nuances and “read the fine print” that accompany this new Final Rule. You can read Jim Tate’s analysis of this new final rule. You can also attend two upcoming webinars hosted by us and presented by Jim. The series is designed to educate CIOs, CTOs, MU implementation specialists, and other stake-holders involved in meeting requirements under the CMS EHR Incentive Program.
Thursday, Oct. 2, 1 pm Eastern
Meaningful Use and The Rise of the Portals: Best Practices in Patient Engagement Meeting patient engagement requirements for Stage 2 has proven to be a difficult process. On this webinar Jim will walk attendees through best practices for both vendors and providers to help meet these requirements and stimulate a more robust interaction between patients and providers.
REGISTER HERE
Thursday, Oct. 9, 1 pm Eastern
Public Health Measures Meaningful Use: Reporting on Public Health Measures On this webinar, Jim and HITECH Answers Roberta Mullin take a look at the stumbling blocks related to exclusion of meaningful use (MU) public health measures claimed during attestation.
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About Jim Tate
Jim Tate is known as the most experienced authority on the CMS Meaningful Use (MU) and the audit and appeal process. His unique combination of skills has brought successful outcomes to hospitals at risk of having their CMS EHR incentives recouped. He led the first appeal challenge in the nation for a client hospital that had received a negative audit determination. That appeal was decided in favor of the hospital. He has also been successful in leading the effort to reverse a failed appeal, even after the hospital had received notification of the failure with the statement, “This decision is final and not subject to further appeal”. That “final” decision was reversed in less than a week. He is the founder of EMR Advocate and Meaningful Use Audits. Contact him at: audits@emradvocate.com.