New CMS rule allows flexibility in certified EHR technology for 2014
Rule will help more providers use electronic health record technology
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) published a final rule today that allows health care providers more flexibility in how they use certified electronic health record (EHR) technology (CEHRT) to meet meaningful use for an EHR Incentive Program reporting period for 2014. By providing this flexibility, more providers will be able to participate and meet important meaningful use objectives like drug interaction and drug allergy checks, providing clinical summaries to patients, electronic prescribing, reporting on key public health data and reporting on quality measures.
“We listened to stakeholder feedback and provided CEHRT flexibility for 2014 to help ensure providers can continue to participate in the EHR Incentive Programs forward,” said Marilyn Tavenner, CMS administrator. “We were excited to see that there is overwhelming support for this change.”
Based on public comments and feedback from stakeholders, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) identified ways to help eligible professionals, eligible hospitals, and critical access hospitals (CAHs) implement and meaningfully use Certified EHR Technology. Specifically, eligible providers can use the 2011 Edition CEHRT or a combination of 2011 and 2014 Edition CEHRT for an EHR reporting period in 2014 for the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs; All eligible professionals, eligible hospitals, and CAHs are required to use the 2014 Edition CEHRT in 2015.
These updates to the EHR Incentive Programs support HHS’ commitment to implementing an effective health information technology infrastructure that elevates patient-centered care, improves health outcomes, and supports the providers that care for patients.
The rule also finalizes the extension of Stage 2 through 2016 for certain providers and announces the Stage 3 timeline, which will begin in 2017 for providers who first became meaningful EHR users in 2011 or 2012.
An updated meaningful use timeline and a chart with 2011 and 2014 CEHRT Edition options are below.
Updated Meaningful Use Timeline
|
First |
Stage of Meaningful Use |
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|
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
|
|
2011 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
|
3 |
TBD |
TBD |
TBD |
TBD |
|
2012 |
|
1 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
|
3 |
TBD |
TBD |
TBD |
TBD |
|
2013 |
|
|
1 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
TBD |
TBD |
TBD |
|
2014 |
|
|
|
1 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
TBD |
TBD |
|
2015 |
|
|
|
|
1 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
TBD |
|
2016 |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
|
2017 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
|
|
|
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|
Previous Stage 3 Start Date |
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|
|
New Stage 3 Start Date |
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Systems Available for Use in 20
CEHRT SYSTEMS AVAILABLE FOR USE IN 2014
|
If you were scheduled to demonstrate: |
You would be able to attest for Meaningful Use: |
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|
Using 2011 Edition CEHRT to do: |
Using 2011 & 2014 Edition CEHRT to do: |
Using 2014 Edition CEHRT to do: |
|
|
Stage 1 in 2014 |
2013 Stage 1 objectives and measures* |
2013 Stage 1 objectives and measures* -OR- 2014 Stage 1 objectives and measures* |
2014 Stage 1 objectives and measures |
|
Stage 2 in 2014 |
2013 Stage 1 objectives and measures* |
2013 Stage 1 objectives and measures* -OR- 2014 Stage 1 objectives and measures* -OR- Stage 2 objectives and measures* |
2014 Stage 1 objectives and measures* -OR- Stage 2 objectives and measures |
*Only providers that could not fully implement 2014 Edition CEHRT for the EHR reporting period in 2014 due to delays in 2014 Edition CEHRT availability.
For more information about the EHR Incentive Programs, please visit http://www.cms.gov/EHRIncentivePrograms. For more information about CEHRT, please visit http://www.healthit.gov.
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