CMS extends 2015 EHR attestation deadline to March 11

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services today extended to March 11 the deadline for hospitals and eligible professionals to attest to meaningful use of electronic health records for the 2015 Medicare Electronic Health Records Incentive Program. The original deadline was Feb. 29. Under the final rule modifying meaningful use requirements for 2015-2017, hospitals and critical access hospitals must attest to meaningful use of EHRs for a continuous 90-day period between Oct. 1, 2014 and Dec. 31, 2015 to avoid a payment adjustment. CAHs that successfully attest to meaningful use will avoid a payment adjustment in fiscal year 2015. Other hospitals that successfully attest will avoid the payment adjustment in FYs 2016 and 2017 if they are new to the program, and in FY 2017 if they are returning participants. For more on 2015 program requirements, including tipsheets for hospitals and EPs, visit www.cms.gov.