Updated Information on Measure #3 for Stage 2 of the EHR Incentive Programs

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has notified us of updated information regarding Meaningful Use Stage 2. We understand that this is a concern for many of our providers so we want you to be aware of this latest announcement (read below for the announcement).

In addition to this accouncement, please be aware that we are all still waiting for the final rule on the proposed changes to Meaningful Use Stage 2 that was published April 15, 2015. The public comment period for the proposed changes closed on June 15, 2015 and we are still waiting for the final rule to be published. You can view the summary CMS posted to their website here.

We will continue to keep everyone up to date when we receive any announcements or changes to meaningful use.

Discontinuation of NIST EHR-Randomizer Application; Effective July 1

To keep you updated with information on the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs, CMS has recently updated an FAQ about Stage 2 Summary of Care objective. We encourage you to stay informed by taking a few minutes to review the new information below.

Question: When reporting on the Summary of Care objective in the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Records (EHR) Incentive Program, how can eligible professionals and eligible hospitals meet measure 3 if they are unable to complete a test with the CMS designated test EHR (Randomizer)?

Answer: CMS is aware of difficulties related to systems issues that eligible professionals, eligible hospitals, and critical access hospitals (CAHs) are having in use of the CMS Designated Test EHRs (NIST EHR-Randomizer Application) to meet measure 3 of the Stage 2 Summary of Care objective, therefore, we will be discontinuing this option effective July 1, 2015.

Providers may still meet the Stage 2 Summary of Care objective measure #3 by using one of the following actions:

1. Exchange a summary of care with a provider or third party who has a different CEHRT as the sending provider as part of the 10% threshold for measure #2 (allowing the provider to meet the criteria for measure #3 without the CMS Designated Test EHR). This exchange may be conducted outside of the EHR reporting period timeframe, but must take place no earlier than the start of the year and no later than the end of the EHR reporting year or the attestation date, whichever occurs first.
2. If providers do not exchange summary of care documents with recipients using a different CEHRT in common practice, they may retain documentation on their circumstances and attest “Yes” to meeting measure #3 if they have and are using a certified EHR which meets the standards required to send a CCDA (170.202).

For more information, visit the frequently asked questions page on the CMS website.

Have questions? Be sure to ask them in the comments below.

Disclaimer: 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 EHR Incentive program is constantly changing, and it is the responsibility of each provider to remain abreast of the EHR Incentive program requirements.