EHR Incentive Programs: 2015 through 2017 (Modified Stage 2) Overview
CMS recently released a final rule that specifies criteria that eligible professionals (EPs), eligible hospitals, and critical access hospitals (CAHs) must meet in order to continue to participate in the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs. The final rule’s provisions encompass EHR Incentive Programs in 2015 through 2017 as well as Stage 3 in 2018 and beyond. This fact sheet focuses on the EHR Incentive programs in 2015 through 2017.
Key Concepts for the EHR Incentive Programs in 2015 through 2017
Restructured Stage 1 and Stage 2 objectives and measures to align with Stage 3:
o 10 objectives for EPs, including one consolidated public health reporting objective with
measure options
o 9 objectives for eligible hospitals and CAHs, including one consolidated public health reporting
objective with measure options
- Starting in 2015, the EHR reporting period aligns with the calendar year for all providers
- Changed the EHR reporting period in 2015 to 90 days to accommodate modifications to meaningful use
- Modified Stage 2 patient engagement objectives that require “patient action”
- Streamlined the program by removing redundant, duplicative, and topped out measures
- CQM reporting for both (EPs) and eligible hospitals/CAHs remains as previously finalized
Summary
The EHR Incentive Programs in 2015 through 2017 reflect changes to the objectives and measures of Stages 1 and 2 to align with Stage 3, which focuses on the advanced use of EHRs. The changes also aim to reduce the complexity of the program and work toward a shift to a single set of sustainable objectives and measures in 2018. Redundant, duplicative, or topped out measures have been removed.
Starting in 2015, all providers will be required to attest to a single set of objectives and measures. Since this change may occur after providers have already started to work toward meaningful use in 2015, there are alternate exclusions and specifications within individual objectives for providers who were previously scheduled to be in Stage 1 of the EHR Incentive Programs.
To allow CMS and providers time to implement these modifications, the EHR reporting period in 2015 is any continuous 90 days period within the calendar year. All providers will have until February 29, 2016 to attest.
In response to public comments, two patient engagement objectives that involve patient action have also been modified for 2015 through 2017. The public health reporting objectives have been consolidated into one objective with measure options, which aligns with the structure of Stage 3.
Timeline for EHR Incentive Programs in 2015 through 2017
The table below outlines the Stage providers attest to for the EHR Incentive Programs in 2015 through 2017. In 2015 and 2016, providers attest to a single set of objectives and measures with alternate exclusions and specifications for providers previously scheduled to be in Stage 1. In 2017, providers may attest to either the same single set of objectives and measures (modified version of Stage 2) used in 2015 and 2016 (without alternate exclusions and specifications) or Stage 3.
Timeline for EHR Incentive Programs in 2015 through 2017
The table below outlines the Stage providers attest to for the EHR Incentive Programs in 2015 through 2017. In 2015 and 2016, providers attest to a single set of objectives and measures with alternate exclusions and specifications for providers previously scheduled to be in Stage 1. In 2017, providers may attest to either the same single set of objectives and measures (modified version of Stage 2) used in 2015 and 2016 (without alternate exclusions and specifications) or Stage 3.
|
First year as a meaningful EHR user Stage of meaningful use |
Stage of Meaningful Use |
||
|
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
|
|
2011 |
Modified Stage 2 |
Modified Stage 2 |
Modified Stage 2 Or Stage 3 |
|
2012 |
Modified Stage 2 |
Modified Stage 2 |
Modified Stage 2 Or Stage 3 |
|
2013 |
Modified Stage 2 |
Modified Stage 2 |
Modified Stage 2 Or Stage 3 |
|
2014 |
Modified Stage 2* |
Modified Stage 2 |
Modified Stage 2 Or Stage 3 |
|
2015 |
Modified Stage 2* |
Modified Stage 2 |
Modified Stage 2 Or Stage 3 |
|
2016 |
N/A |
Modified Stage 2 |
Modified Stage 2 Or Stage 3 |
|
* The Modifications to Stage 2 include alternate exclusions and specifications for certain objectives and measures for providers that were scheduled to demonstrate Stage 1 of meaningful use in 2015. Note: Alternate exclusion reporting continues in 2016 for CPOE (all providers) and eRx (for eligible hospitals) only. |
|||
Requirements for EHR Reporting Periods in 2015 Through 2017
Starting in 2015, the EHR reporting period for EPs, eligible hospitals, and CAHs will be based on the calendar year. This allows more time for hospitals and CAHs to implement certified EHR technology, and aligns the EHR Incentive Programs with reporting periods in other CMS quality reporting programs.
In 2015, all providers are required to use technology certified to the 2014 Edition. In 2016 and 2017, providers can choose to use technology certified to the 2014 Edition or the 2015 Edition.
In 2015 only, the EHR reporting period for EPs, eligible hospitals, and CAHs is any continuous 90-day period within the calendar year. EPs may select an EHR reporting period for any continuous 90 days from January 1,
this above information was supplied from CMS: https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Legislation/EHRIncentivePrograms/Downloads/2015_EHR2015_2017.pdf
