Announcements from the ONC about EHR products

The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) recently made two announcements impacting providers participating in the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs.

First, it was announced that two versions of SkyCare 4.2, developed by Platinum Health Information System, Inc., had their certifications terminated for failure to respond and participate in routine surveillance requests by InfoGard Laboratories Inc. (InfoGard), an ONC Authorized Certification Body (ONC-ACB). EHRs must be certified by an ONC-ACB before providers may use them to achieve meaningful use under the EHR Incentive Programs.

Providers will need to transition to other certified EHR technology products to continue to participate in the NY Medicaid EHR Incentive Program. For a list of certified EHR products, please visit the ONC's Certified Health IT Product List http://healthit.gov/chpl.

The official press release from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services is available at www.hhs.gov/news/press/2015pres/09/20150902c.html. CMS has also posted FAQ 12657 - "What if your product is decertified?".

Second, the ONC launched www.healthit.gov/healthitcomplaints to address problems that providers may have with their EHR vendors. It is advised that providers should first attempt to work with their vendors and ONC-ACB, but if the issues remain unresolved, providers can report them to the ONC by using the online complaint form. Supporting documentation about the issues may be sent to healthITcomplaints@hhs.gov.

More details are available at www.healthit.gov/buzz-blog/uncategorized/healthit-complaints/.




FOR MORE INFORMATION,  VISIT: https://www.emedny.org/meipass/

Propesed Rule to Modify Meaningful Use for 2015 through 2017

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released a proposed rule to modify meaningful use (MU) requirements for 2015 through 2017.

How would the proposed rule affect providers?
CMS has proposed to simplify MU requirements by removing redundant, duplicative, and topped out objectives due to advancements in EHR functions and provider performances since the inception of the EHR Incentive Program.

EHR Reporting Period for 2015
This proposed rule would change the definition of “EHR reporting period” for eligible professionals (EPs) and eligible hospitals (EHs) such that the EHR reporting period would begin and end in relation to a calendar year. This requires all providers (including eligible hospitals) to complete an EHR reporting period within January 1 and December 31 of the calendar year in order to demonstrate meaningful use.

Additionally, for 2015 only CMS proposes to allow all EPs and EHs (regardless of their prior participation in the program) to attest to an EHR reporting period of any continuous 90-day period within the calendar year.

Certified EHR Technology (CEHRT)
The proposal includes no further changes to the definition of CEHRT. At the minimum, providers must continue to use EHR technology certified to the 2014 Edition for an EHR reporting period in 2015, 2016, and 2017.

 

Meaningful Use Objectives and Measures for 2015
This proposed rule would change the meaningful use requirements for 2015:

• 9 proposed objectives plus 1 consolidated public health reporting objective for EPs
• 8 proposed objectives plus 1 consolidated public health reporting objective for EHs

Since the proposed modifications are based on Stage 2 meaningful use requirements, there are proposed alternate measures, exclusions and specifications for providers scheduled to participate in Stage 1 for an EHR reporting period in 2015.

There are 10 proposed objectives for 2015 Meaningful Use:

• Protect Electronic Health Information
• Clinical Decision Support
• Computerized Provider Order Entry (CPOE)
• Electronic Prescribing (eRx)
• Summary of Care
• Patient Specific Education
• Medication Reconciliation
• Patient Electronic Access (VDT)
• Secure Electronic Messaging
• Public Health and Clinical Data Registry (CDR) Reporting

The proposed rule is open for public comment until June 15, 2015.
More guidance about meaningful use for 2015 and beyond will be posted on the NY Medicaid EHR Incentive Program website in future updates.

Stage 3 Proposed Rule

Stage 3 Proposed Rule

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has published the proposed rule for Stage 3 meaningful use requirements and criteria for 2017 and beyond. 

According to the proposed rule, all providers (Eligible Professionals and Eligible Hospitals) will be required to demonstrate Stage 3 meaningful use beginning in 2018. To aid in the transition, CMS proposes that providers will have the option in 2017 either to repeat their current stage or to move up stage levels. Providers, however, will not be allowed to move backward to a lower stage (e.g. move from Stage 2 to Stage 1). Refer to Table 3 from the proposed rule for further guidance.

Also beginning in 2017, the EHR reporting period has been simplified such that all providers (except Medicaid providers in their first year of meaningful use) will report on a full calendar year as their EHR reporting period. This change particularly effects Eligible Hospitals that have been required to report based on the federal fiscal year.

2014 Edition Certified EHR Technology (CEHRT) remains the minimum requirement for payment years 2015 through 2017. Starting in 2018, all providers will be required to use the 2015 Edition. Concurrent with CMS, the Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) has published the proposed rule for the 2015 Edition.

 

There are 8 proposed objectives for Stage 3 Meaningful Use:

• Protect Patient Health Information
• Electronic Prescribing (eRX)
• Clinical Decision Support
• Computerized Provider Order Entry (CPOE)
• Patient Electronic Access to Health Information
• Coordination of Care through Patient Engagement
• Health Information Exchange (HIE)
• Public Health and Clinical Data Registry Reporting

More guidance about Stage 3 will be posted on the NY Medicaid EHR Incentive Program website in future updates.

CONTACT DETAILS:

www.emedny.org/meipass
Phone: 877-646-5410    

2014 CEHRT Flexibility Rule

What is it? On August 29, 2014 CMS and ONC released a final rule that allows providers participating in the EHR Incentive Programs to use the 2011 Edition of certified electronic health record technology (CEHRT) for calendar and fiscal year 2014. The rule grants flexibility to providers who are unable to fully implement 2014 Edition CEHRT for an EHR reporting period in 2014 due to delays in 2014 CEHRT availability. Providers may now use EHRs that have been certified under the 2011 Edition, a combination of the 2011 and 2014 Editions, or the 2014 Edition for payment year 2014. How does it affect providers? Providers' attestation options under the flexibility rule depend on which Stage they were scheduled to demonstrate and which CEHRT they used for payment year 2014. Below is a table from the CMS press release about the flexibility rule:   You would be able to attest for Meaningful Use: If you were scheduled to demonstrate: Using 2011 Edition CEHRT to do: Using 2011 & 2014 Edition CEHRT to do: Using 2014 Edition CEHRT to do: Stage 1 in 2014 2013 Stage 1 objectives and measures* 2013 Stage 1 objectives and measures* -OR- 2014 Stage 1 objectives and measures* 2014 Stage 1 objectives and measures Stage 2 in 2014 2013 Stage 1 objectives and measures* 2013 Stage 1 objectives and measures* -OR- 2014 Stage 1 objectives and measures* -OR- Stage 2 objectives and measures* 2014 Stage 1 objectives and measures* -OR- Stage 2 objectives and measures   *Only providers that could not fully implement 2014 Edition CEHRT for the EHR reporting period in 2014 due to delays in 2014 Edition CEHRT availability.   When can providers attest under this rule? The flexibility rule will be available in MEIPASS in the first quarter of 2015. Providers will have sufficient time to attest under the flexibility rule and meet the payment year 2014 deadline of March 31, 2015. Will providers be able to use the flexibility rule after 2014? This flexibility rule only applies to payment year 2014. Beginning in 2015, all eligible providers will be required to report using 2014 Edition CEHRT. More information about the flexibility rule is available at the CMS website: www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Legislation/EHRIncentivePrograms/EducationalMaterials.html

NY Medicaid Electronic Health Records Incentive Program Update

The NY Medicaid EHR Incentive Program provides financial incentives to eligible practitioners and hospitals to promote the transition to EHRs. Providers who practice using EHRs are in the forefront of improving quality, reducing costs, and addressing health disparities. Since December 2011 over $487.5 million in incentive funds have been distributed within 10,100 payments to New York State Medicaid providers.  

For more information about the EHR Incentive Program, we encourage you to visit the program website at www.emedny.org/meipass/ or attend one of the informational webinars hosted by the NYS Department of Health.
 

 TAKING A CLOSER LOOK:    NY Medicaid EHR Incentive Program Updated
                                                  with 2014 Guidance

Have you seen the new updates on the NY Medicaid EHR Incentive Program website? We are pleased to announce that the website has been updated with new 2014 program guidance to inform healthcare practitioner and hospital participants:

• February webinar dates on our Upcoming Event Calendar
• NEW Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
• NEW 2014 Eligible Professional Participation Year Webpages and Webinars
• Revised 2014 Eligible Hospital Participation Year Webpages and Webinars
• Don't miss a deadline! Check out the Deadline and Timelines Table

To see the complete schedule of events and webinars, please view our improved Upcoming Event Calendar at www.emedny.org/meipass/info/Events.aspx.

NY Medicaid Electronic Health Records Incentive Program Update

The NY Medicaid EHR Incentive Program provides financial incentives to eligible practitioners and hospitals to promote the transition to electronic health records (EHR). Providers who practice using EHRs are in the forefront of improving quality, reducing costs, and addressing health disparities. Since December 2011 over $404 million in incentive funds have been distributed to over 7950 New York State Medicaid providers.

For more information about the EHR Incentive Program, we encourage you to visit the program website at www.emedny.org/meipass/ or attend one of the informational webinars hosted by the NYS Department of Health. Click here to see the complete schedule of events and webinars.

TAKING A CLOSER LOOK: NY Medicaid EHR Incentive Program Support Team

Our Support Team takes great pride in offering providers free high quality program support. Don't take our word for it, call us at 1-888-646-5410 with any program question(s) and see for yourself!

 

They have provided the help for all my doubts, very promptly and to the point."

"Prompt, courteous, informative service provided. Offering guidance and support to help find a resolution"

"This is a fantastic group to work with. Professional and knowledgeable. My staff could learn from them."

"We felt like the Support Services were on "our team" in getting our questions answered. Excellent customer relations."

"What I have found absolutely impressive is how well your staff understands the Medicaid EHR incentive process AND how well they can explain it to others."

"The support center provides a vital service!"

 

 

Our service portfolio is hosted at emedny.org/meipass:
Tier 1 & 2 Support Analysts • Webinars • How-To Pages • FAQs • Walkthroughs • LISTSERV

 

 

NY Medicaid Electronic Health Records Incentive Program Update

The NY Medicaid EHR Incentive Program provides financial incentives to eligible practitioners and hospitals to promote the transition to electronic health records (EHR). Providers who practice using EHRs are in the forefront of improving quality, reducing costs, and addressing health disparities. Since December 2011 over $381 million in incentive funds have been distributed to over 7200 New York State Medicaid providers.

For more information about the EHR Incentive Program, we encourage you to visit the program website at www.emedny.org/meipass/ or attend one of the informational webinars hosted by the NYS Department of Health. Click here to see the complete schedule of events and webinars.


TAKING A CLOSER LOOK: Program Registration to Incentive Payment Highlights 

9,750+ registered.

7,200+ incentivized.

Are you on board?

Have Questions? Contact hit@health.state.ny.us for program clarifications and details.