CMS: Hospitals can attest to first year of 'meaningful use' this summer

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will allow hospitals participating in the Medicare Electronic Health Record program for the first time in fiscal year 2015 to attest to meaningful use between now and Aug. 14, the agency advised the AHA. CMS previously intended to require these hospitals to wait until Jan. 1, 2016 to attest due to system changes being made by the agency. The AHA advocated for the change as the previous policy was unfair to hospitals new to the program. Eligible hospitals and critical access hospitals participating in the program for the first time in FY 2015 may attest to meaningful use for a 90-day reporting period. Hospitals using this option must attest to the Stage 1 meaningful use requirements that were applicable beginning in 2014, not the revised requirements contained in a recent proposed rule changing meaningful use for 2015 to 2017. They also will not be able to attest for the full-year EHR reporting period in 2016 until January 2017. Eligible hospitals and CAHs that have previously participated in the program must report on a full year of performance and will be able to submit their attestations through the CMS Registration and Attestation System in early 2016. For more information, see today’s AHA Special Bulletin for members.