CMS is announcing its intent to reopen the submission period for hardship exception applications for eligible professionals and eligible hospitals to avoid the 2015 Medicare payment adjustments for not demonstrating Meaningful Use of Certified Electronic Health Record Technology (CEHRT). The new deadline will be November 30, 2014. Previously, the hardship exception application deadline was April 1, 2014, for eligible hospitals and July 1, 2014, for eligible professionals.

As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act), Congress mandated payment adjustments under Medicare for eligible hospitals, critical access hospitals and eligible professionals that are not meaningful users of CEHRT. The Recovery Act allows the Secretary to consider, on a case-by-case basis, hardship exceptions for eligible hospitals, critical access hospitals and eligible professionals to avoid the payment adjustments.

This reopened hardship exception application submission period is for eligible professionals and eligible hospitals that:

• Have been unable to fully implement 2014 Edition CEHRT due to delays in 2014 Edition CEHRT availability; AND
• Eligible professionals who were unable to attest by October 1, 2014, and eligible hospitals that were unable to attest by July 1, 2014, using the flexibility options provided in the CMS 2014 CEHRT Flexibility Rule.

These are the only circumstances that will be considered for this reopened hardship exception application submission period. Applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. EST November 30, 2014.

Visit the Payment Adjustments and Hardship Exceptions webpage for more information about Medicare EHR Incentive Program payment adjustments.