CMS Outlines Attestation and Payment Process for Medicare EHR Incentive Program.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Medicare Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Program began on April 18. CMS recently issued a Medicare Learning Network Matters article that outlines how eligible providers may receive incentive payments for the “meaningful use” of certified EHR technology. To receive an incentive payment, eligible hospitals, professionals and critical access hospitals (CAHs) must attest to their organization’s meaningful use of EHR through a web-based Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs Registration and Attestation System. Eligible professionals must report 15 core measures, 5 out of 10 menu measures, and 6 clinical quality measures.

Eligible hospitals and CAHs must report 14 core measures, 5 out of 10 menu measures, and 15 clinical quality measures. All eligible professionals, hospitals, and CAHs must report these measures for a complete a 90-day reporting period. Assuming that providers properly attest to meaningful use, they will receive the incentive payments approximately four to eight weeks after the attestation is submitted. Eligible professionals that participate over the next five years under the Medicare EHR Incentive Program are eligible to receive up to $44,000. Based on a number of factors, incentive payments for eligible hospitals and CAHs begin with a base payment of $2 million.

The MLN Matters Article (SE1111) can be found at: http://www.cms.gov/MLNMattersArticles/Downloads/SE1111.pdf.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. “Medicare Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Payment Process.” MLN Matters Article: SE1111. 20 Apr. 2011.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. “Medicare Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Program Attestation Begins on Monday, April 18th.” Press Release. 4 Apr. 2011.