|
Please be advised that the Medicare EHR incentive payment registration process began on January 3, 2011. Several state Medicaid EHR incentive programs have opened the registration process as well. Murer Consultants, Inc. recommends that providers register as soon as possible in order to 1) ensure maximum payment under the EHR incentive program and 2) ensure that there is sufficient time to resolve any problems experienced during the registration process.
In order to qualify for EHR incentive payments under both Federal and State programs, providers must complete the following registration steps:
1) Verify that the provider has a complete, approved enrollment record in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Provider Enrollment Chain and Ownership System (PECOS). Providers can call their fiscal intermediary or log on to the internet-based PECOS system (see item 2 below) to confirm enrollment status.
2) Complete the internet-based PECOS activation process and obtain access for the hospital's Authorized Official (AO) as soon as possible by visiting the PECOS login website. Although CMS does not require providers to use CMS's internet-based PECOS system for Medicare enrollment purposes, the internet-based PECOS login is the same information used to access the EHR registration system. Please note that the authorization process can take several weeks. If you already have a PECOS user name and password, you are one step ahead.
3) Complete the Medicare and Medicaid EHR registration process by visiting the EHR Incentive login website. Providers that have an internet-based PECOS username and password can login to the EHR registration with this information. Please visit the following link for a list of states that have opened their respective EHR Medicaid incentive registration processes.
Under the Medicare EHR incentive programs, eligible hospitals may receive up to a $2 million base payment if the hospital can demonstrate that its EHR technology meets CMS's meaningful use criteria. Eligible professionals may also receive up to $44,000 over five years. Similar benefits will be available under State Medicaid EHR incentive programs.
It is critical to stay one step ahead to ensure timely and accurate payment of EHR incentives. Murer Consultants, Inc. has already helped a number of providers navigate the registration process and has discovered/resolved a number of problems along the way. We would be pleased to assist your institution with the EHR incentive registration process. If you have questions or would like to discuss our services, please call us at (815) 727-3355 or visit us at www.murer.com.
| 
