CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) extended the Meaningful Use Stage 2 Attestation date recently. This move was aimed to give a lifeline to the providers who are struggling to comply with the MU standards. The attestation deadline for the EHs and CAHs for 2014 was extended to December 31, with a liberty that they will get a payment and will be able to avoid the 2016 Medicare payment adjustment if attested.
Initially the date was fixed at November 31, later postponed for a month. This extension also extended the deadline for eligible hospitals and CAHs that were submitting their clinical quality measures electronically. Also, the extension does not apply to the Medicaid Meaningful Use program.
CMS has not said anything on the reason for this deadline postponing though, but is offering the CAHs and EHs tips on Meaningful Use Stage 2 Attestation. This includes logging into attest on non-peak hours, logging now to make sure the data on the provider is updated, etc. As per the experts, it is the low number of the providers in health service that has made CMS to extend the deadline.
As per the latest statistics, only 1478 EPs and 840 EHs have qualified for Meaningful Use Stage 2 Attestation. Many of the small and medium providers are still struggling hard to get attested to the Stage 2 of Meaningful Use. These issues also made CMS to soften the requirements.
As per the old requirements, providers should use 2014 certified EHRs, which is not mandatory now. They have also extended the hardship extension for the providers who were unable to attest due to EHR vendor related issues. It is good that CMS has softened the requirements and extended the Meaningful Use Stage 2 Attestation dates, but still many of the EPs and EHs are complaining that the changes are insufficient.
The latest figures of Modern Healthcare show that the program has paid 24.7 billion dollars until now. Experts in medical field hope that the extension of the compliance date and the relaxation in rules will allow many of the hospitals and doctors clinics to get attested to the MU stage 2.
Initially the date was fixed at November 31, later postponed for a month. This extension also extended the deadline for eligible hospitals and CAHs that were submitting their clinical quality measures electronically. Also, the extension does not apply to the Medicaid Meaningful Use program.
CMS has not said anything on the reason for this deadline postponing though, but is offering the CAHs and EHs tips on Meaningful Use Stage 2 Attestation. This includes logging into attest on non-peak hours, logging now to make sure the data on the provider is updated, etc. As per the experts, it is the low number of the providers in health service that has made CMS to extend the deadline.
As per the latest statistics, only 1478 EPs and 840 EHs have qualified for Meaningful Use Stage 2 Attestation. Many of the small and medium providers are still struggling hard to get attested to the Stage 2 of Meaningful Use. These issues also made CMS to soften the requirements.
As per the old requirements, providers should use 2014 certified EHRs, which is not mandatory now. They have also extended the hardship extension for the providers who were unable to attest due to EHR vendor related issues. It is good that CMS has softened the requirements and extended the Meaningful Use Stage 2 Attestation dates, but still many of the EPs and EHs are complaining that the changes are insufficient.
The latest figures of Modern Healthcare show that the program has paid 24.7 billion dollars until now. Experts in medical field hope that the extension of the compliance date and the relaxation in rules will allow many of the hospitals and doctors clinics to get attested to the MU stage 2.