Member Update
August 30, 2016
EHR Incentive Programs Changes
Included in CY 2017 Hospital OPPS and ASC Proposed Rule

This proposed rule includes the following changes for Eligible Professionals (EPs) who plan to attest to the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs.
  • A 90-day EHR reporting period in 2016 for all EPs.
  • New participants will be required to attest to Modified Stage 2 by October 1, 2017 to avoid the 2018 payment adjustment.
  • Certain EPs, who are new participants that intend to attest to meaningful use for an EHR reporting period in 2017, and who intend to transition to MIPS and report on measures specified for the advancing care information performance category will be allowed to apply for a significant hardship exception from the 2018 payment adjustment.
  • For all meaningful use measures, unless otherwise specified, actions included in the numerator must occur within the EHR reporting period if that period is a full calendar year, or if it is less than a full calendar year, within the calendar year in which the EHR reporting period occurs.
The comment period for the proposed rule ends September 6th. Click HERE to submit a comment.
EHR Regulatory Relief Act
Introduced 7/13/16
Senate Bill 3173, the EHR Regulatory Relief Act, is sponsored by six senators including Kansas Senator Pat Roberts. The key points of this bill are:
  • A 90 day reporting period in 2016 (same as above).
  • A change from 100% compliance with MU requirements to no more than 70%.
  • An extension of the current law providing hardship relief to providers for 2016 and 2017.
Click HERE to review the pre-submission text.
Click HERE to read the summary.
 
Click HERE to express your support of this bill via Senator Roberts' website.
Contact the HCCN Grant Project Team
Feel free to contact any member of the KAMU HCCN Grant Project Team below for assistance with project activities.
Terri Kennedytkennedy@kspca.org785-233-8483
Susan Woodswood@kspca.org785-233-8483
Trish Harknesstharkness@kspca.org620-874-8034
Health Center Connections is a health center controlled network organized and supported by KAMU. This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number HRSA-16-010, Health Center Controlled Networks for $625,000 from 8/1/16 through 7/31/17 with no financing from nongovernmental sources. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.