Hospitals participating in the Medicare EHR Incentive Program that did not demonstrate meaningful use of an EHR in 2015 will see payment adjustments beginning Oct. 1, according to CMS. But the good news is just 2 percent of eligible hospitals are subject to the adjustments.
The upcoming payment adjustments are tied to hospitals' EHR reporting period in 2015. They are applied as a reduction to the applicable percentage increase to the Inpatient Prospective Payment System payment rate, which reduces the update to the IPPS standardized amount. Hospitals that did not adequately attest face up to a 75 percent negative payment adjustment.
However, the majority of eligible hospitals and critical access hospitals — 98 percent — have successfully demonstrated meaningful use and will avoid the upcoming payment adjustments.
The 2 percent of hospitals that did not demonstrate meaningful use were permitted to apply for hardship exceptions to avoid the upcoming payment adjustments. Applications for such exceptions were due July 1.
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