The American Medical Informatics Association voiced its support for the 2018 rollout of new certified EHR technology and enhanced reporting period flexibilities in a June 13 letter to CMS Administrator Seema Verma.
In April, CMS proposed reducing the reporting period for all Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Program participants. The proposal would reduce the reporting period to any continuous 90-day period in 2018, down from the full calendar year. The proposal would also reduce the number of electronic quality measures providers report for the Medicare EHR Incentive Program.
AMIA recommended pursuing these proposed flexibilities, since some hospitals participating in the EHR Incentive Programs may need additional time to implement 2015-edition certified EHR technology. AMIA also supported CMS' proposal to move forward with requiring hospitals to use 2015-certified EHR technology for incentive programs in 2018.
"We strongly believe that providers must upgrade certified EHRs in a timely fashion to sustain and further encourage IT enabled care delivery," reads the letter.
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