It’s Official: The New CMS Rule Has Passed

Update: For a more full description and more detailed information, please read our latest post on this subject.

This past week on August 29th, the Department of Health and Human Services published a final rule allowing more flexibility for 2014 according to a press release.  According to the release, eligible providers can now use a 2011 edition certified EHR technology (CEHRT) or a combination of 2011 and 2014 edition CEHRT for an EHR reporting period in 2014 for the meaningful use Incentive Programs.  However, in 2015 it is required to use the 2014 edition CEHRT for all eligible professionals, eligible hospitals, and critical access hospitals.

This is great because it does allow for some flexibility in how CEHRT’s are used to meet meaningful use for this 2014 reporting year.  Hopefully now more providers will be able to participate and meet important meaningful use objectives.  It should now be easier for more providers to meet objectives like electronic prescribing, providing clinical summaries to patients, drug interactions and drug allergy checks, reporting on quality measures and reporting on key public health data.

The press release also gives some information about how the new ruling finalizes the extension of Stage 2 through 2016 for certain providers and announces the Stage 3 timeline.  The stage 3 timeline will begin in 2017 for providers who first became meaningful EHR users in 2011 or 2012.

Here is an updated meaningful use timeline and a chart with 2011 and 2014 CEHRT Edition options.

Updated Meaningful Use Timeline from the Press Release:

CEHRT Systems Available For Use In 2014

Need more information about the EHR Incentive Programs?

Make sure to visit the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs website for the latest news and updates on the EHR Incentive Programs.  Or you can just go to CMS.gov to get any of the information you need.

Also please note that AZCOMP Technologies, Inc, (AZCOMP) is providing this material as an informational reference for eligible professionals. Although every reasonable effort has been made to assure the accuracy of the information within these pages at the time of posting, the Medicare program is constantly changing, and it is the responsibility of each provider to remain aware and educated of the Medicare program requirements.