Earlier this month, CMS issued a final rule granting providers the flexibility in meaningful use attestation the agency had originally proposed back in May and finalizing the extension of stage 2 through 2016 for providers that started attesting in 2011 or 2012.
The rule finalizes the proposed attestation flexibility for providers that were unable to implement 2014 CEHRT in time to successfully attest due to vendor delays. These providers will be able to use 2011 Edition CEHRT or a combination of 2011 and 2014 Edition to attest to either stage 1 or stage 2. They will also be able to attest to meaningful use under the 2013 reporting year definition and use 2013's clinical quality measures.
The rule was generally welcomed by provider organizations and other stakeholders, with one notable point of contention — the final rule keeps the 2015 reporting period at a full 365 days rather than the 90-day period industry members had urged.
This week, 17 industry organizations wrote a letter to HHS Secretary Sylvia Burwell to again request the reporting period be shortened to 90 days. The organizations' main concern is that many of the providers who weren't able to implement 2014 Edition CEHRT in time to attest this year won't be ready to do so in the next 15 days, when the 2015 reporting period starts.
"For roughly 3,800 hospitals, the final rule requires implementation of 2014 Edition CEHRT configured for stage 2 measures and objectives by Oct. 1, 2014," according to the letter. "More than 237,000 eligible professionals will need to be similarly positioned by Jan. 1, 2015. This is in addition to the 1,200 hospitals and 290,000 EPs who also must have 2014 Edition CEHRT implemented before the beginning of their reporting year at stage 1."
However, current meaningful use attestation numbers suggest the vast majority of these providers will not be ready. Just 143 hospitals have met stage 2 thus far, or about 4 percent of the hospitals that will be required to begin stage 2 reporting next month, according to the letter.
Reducing the attestation period to 90 days, and thereby giving hospitals until July 1, 2015 (and eligible professionals until Oct. 1, 2015) to start the reporting period, would "help hundreds of thousands of providers meet stage 2 requirements in an effective and safe manner," according to the letter. "This will reinforce investments made to date and it will ensure continued momentum towards the goals of stage 3, including enhanced care coordination and interoperability."
The letter's 17 signatory organizations include the American Academy of Family Physicians, American College of Physicians, the American College of Physician Executives, America's Essential Hospitals, American Hospital Association, American Medical Association, Association of American Medical Colleges, Association of Medical Directors of Information Systems, Catholic Health Association of the U.S., Children's Hospital Association, College of Healthcare Information Management Executives, Federation of American Hospitals, HIMSS, Medical Group Management Association, National Rural Health Association and Premier healthcare alliance.
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