This content is from Coker Group.
After a prolonged comment period, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has finally released their Meaningful Use (MU) Stage 3 regulations and updated requirements for Stages 1 and 2. These regulations answer a number of questions about where the MU program is going and what is expected of all providers over the next several years. In particular:
• All providers can attest for the entire 2015 year with 90 days of consecutive data recording up through12/31/15, regardless of which stage or year they are in.
• Requirements for electronic transfer of information between providers has been reduced to demonstrating capability only.
• Requirements for electronic sharing of information with patients has been reduced to one patient for your 90-day reporting period.
• Risk assessment plan review continues annually with emphasis on year-to-year progress.
• MU penalties remain in place and grow by a percent next year for those providers who have already been assessed penalties.
• Meaningful use participation is required for those providers who will wish to take advantage of the new MACRA (outcome) regulations/SGR resolution, which will be released next year and implemented in 2017.
At Coker, we believe that it behooves physicians to move forward assertively with their MU attestation programs, or they will not be able to take advantage of the new incentives for moving to CMS outcomes payment programs, even as early as first quarter 2016.
For a more in-depth discussion on MU, click here to register for a webinar led by Charles Jarvis on Thursday, November 12 at 2:00PM EDT