EHR Certification Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
The following is correspondence from CMS and ONC.
In May 2014, CMS released a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that would grant flexibility to providers who are experiencing difficulties fully implementing 2014 Edition certified EHR technology (CEHRT) to attest this year.
CMS has created an interactive decision tool that guides providers through their potential participation options for 2014. Providers answer a few questions about their current stage of meaningful use and Edition of EHR certification, and the tool displays the corresponding options proposed in the NPRM.
About the NPRM
Under this proposal, valid only for the 2014 reporting year, providers would be able to use 2011 Edition CEHRT for either Stage 1 or Stage 2, would have the option to attest to the 2013 definition of meaningful use core and menu objectives, and use the 2013 definition CQMs.
2011 CEHRT
- Providers in Stage 1 or 2:
- 2013 Definition Stage 1 objectives and 2013 CQMs
Combination of 2011 & 2014 CEHRT
- Providers in Stage 1:
- 2013 Definition Stage 1 objectives and 2013 CQMs; or
- 2014 Definition Stage 1 objectives and 2014 CQMs
- Providers in Stage 2:
- 2013 Definition Stage 1 objectives and 2013 CQMs; or
- 2014 Definition Stage 1 objectives and 2014 CQMs; or
- 2014 Definition Stage 2 objectives and 2014 CQMs
2014 CEHRT
- Providers in Stage 1:
- 2014 Definition Stage 1 objectives and 2014 CQMs
- Providers in Stage 2:
- 2014 Definition Stage 2 objectives and 2014 CQMs; or
- 2014 Definition Stage 1 objectives and 2014 CQMs
The proposed rule also includes a provision that would formalize CMS and ONC’s recommended timeline to extend Stage 2 through 2016. If finalized, the earliest a provider would participate in Stage 3 of meaningful use would be 2017.
Submit Comments
CMS and ONC invite the public to submit comments on the NPRM. Comments must be received by July 21, 2014 to be considered.