CMS clarifies EHR public health reporting requirements for 2016

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has issued three new Frequently Asked Questions clarifying what hospitals and eligible professionals participating in the Medicare Electronic Health Records Incentive Program must do to meet the public health reporting objective in 2016. Feb. 29 is the deadline for hospitals and EPs to register their intent to report electronic public health data to a registry for 2016. The new FAQs clarify how a provider can register their intent to report to a registry that becomes available after that date, and the public health reporting measures for which EPs and hospitals may claim an alternate exclusion; for details, see FAQs 14393, 14397 and 14401. CMS also updated three FAQs on the specialized registry measure; for details, see FAQs 13657, 14117 and 13653.