CMS Proposed Rule Will Extend EHR Incentive Program
- By BSTQ Staff
Under a proposed rule by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), healthcare providers will have an extra year to use 2011 edition software in their electronic health record systems under the federal incentive program for health IT. This will provide hospitals, physicians and other eligible professionals trying to meet the program’s stage 1 meaningful-use criteria more flexibility.
CMS and the Office of the National Coordination for Health Information Technology cited the slow delivery and implementation of the upgraded 2014 edition software as the reason for the delay. “Through letters to CMS, public forums, listening sessions and public comment at CMS meetings, many provider associations have expressed concern that, although 2014 edition (technology) may be available for adoption, there is a backlog of many months for the updated version to be installed and implemented so that providers can successfully attest for 2014,” the rule writers said. “We also understand that the delay in availability may limit a provider’s ability to fully implement 2014 edition (technology) across the facility.”
