February 25, 2015
Area(s) of Interest:
Electronic Health Records Health Information Technology Practice Management
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has extended the deadline for physicians to attest to meaningful use for the Medicare Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Program 2014 reporting year. While the original deadline was February 28, physicians now have until 11:59 p.m., ET, on March 20, 2015, to attest.
CMS extended the deadline to allow providers extra time to submit their meaningful use data, but urges providers to begin attesting for 2014 as soon as they can.
This extension also allows eligible professionals, who have not already used their one “switch,” to switch programs (from Medicare to Medicaid, or vice versa) for the 2014 payment year. After that time, eligible professionals will no longer be able to switch programs.
Medicare-eligible professionals must attest to meaningful use every year to receive an incentive and avoid a payment adjustment. Providers who successfully attest for the 2014 program year will:
- Receive an incentive payment; and
Avoid the Medicare payment adjustment, which will be applied January 1, 2016.
Note: The Medicare extension does not affect deadlines for the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program. Additionally, the EHR reporting option for the Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) has been extended until March 20, 2015. The California Medical Association will publish more information on the PQRS program extension as it becomes available.
How to Attest
Submit your data to the Registration and Attestation System, which includes 2014 Certified EHR Technology (CEHRT) Flexibility Rule options.
Tips for speed:
- Attest during non-peak hours, such as evenings and weekends
- Start now to:
For help, call the EHR Information Center at (888) 734-6433.