The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is reminding healthcare providers that attestation for the Medicare Electronic Health Record Incentive Program begins on April 18.
In order for providers to receive their Medicare EHR incentive payment, they must attest through CMS' Web-based Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs Registration and Attestation System.
[See also: Portal for EHR Incentive Program goes live.]
Providers can now preview selected screenshots of the system to help them understand what the attestation process will involve. CMS says the screenshots are only examples, and that the final appearance and language may incorporate additional changes.
CMS is also planning to release additional information about the Medicare attestation process soon, including user guides that provide step-by-step instructions for completing attestation, and educational webinars that describe the attestation process in depth.
Requirements for eligible professionals (EPs), eligible hospitals, and critical access hospitals (CAHs) participating in the Medicare EHR Incentive Program are different.
- EP Meaningful Use Criteria – Must report on 15 core measures, five of 10 menu measures, and 6 clinical quality measures, consisting of three required core measures and three additional measures.
- Eligible Hospital and CAH Meaningful Use Criteria – Must report on 14 core measures, five of 10 menu measures, and 15 clinical quality measures.
[See also: Government EHR incentive program ready to go.]
CMS is reminding providers to make sure to begin their 90-day reporting period in time to attest and receive a Medicare payment in 2011. The last day to begin the 90-day reporting period for 2011 incentive payments is July 3, 2011, for eligible hospitals and CAHs, and October 1, 2011, for EPs.
Under the Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs, the date when participants can begin attestation for adopting, implementing, upgrading, or demonstrating meaningful use of certified EHR technology varies by state.