CMS has indicated that it intends to extend Stage 2 of meaningful use attestation under the Medicare/Medicaid Electronic Health Record (“EHR”) Incentive Program. In a recent blog post, CMS states that the new or modified Stage 3 requirements for becoming a meaningful user of a certified EHR technology will not be effective until 2017 for those eligible professionals and eligible hospitals that first attested to Stage 1 in 2011 or 2012. The pronouncement by CMS does not delay Stage 2 but rather simply provides guidance that the earliest date that Stage 3 will be effective is 2017. For any eligible professional or eligible hospitals first attesting to Stage 1 on or after 2013, the timetable previously announced by CMS remains in place, which will require two years of attestation to each of Stage 1, Stage 2 and Stage 3. Eligible providers and eligible hospitals should remember that the blog post only signals CMS’s intent and does not change any current meaningful use regulations.
If you have questions regarding certified EHR or meaningful use, please contact Jeff Short at 317-977-1413 or jshort@hallrender.com, Ammon Fillmore at 317-977-1492 or afillmore@hallrender.com or your regular Hall Render attorney.
