Drop Dead Date for Medicare EHR Incentive Program

Mark your calendars for October 3

In one week, Eligible Professionals will be facing the drop dead date for reporting for the Medicare EHR Incentive program. The reporting period for calendar year 2011 ends on December 31 and to receive the first incentive payment you must attest to reporting for a consecutive 90 days. Under the Fee-for-Service Medicare program the amount of the incentive payment will be determined by the EPs Medicare allowed charges for the calendar year. The EP will be paid 75% of those allowed charges up to $24,000. To receive the maximum incentive payments an EP must begin participation by 2012.

This is the timeline with more important dates for the program.

• October 1, 2010 – Reporting year begins for eligible hospitals and CAHs.
• January 1, 2011 – Reporting year begins for eligible professionals.
• January 3, 2011 – Registration for the Medicare EHR Incentive Program begins.
• January 3, 2011 – For Medicaid providers, states may launch their programs if they so choose.
• April 18, 2011 – Attestation for the Medicare EHR Incentive Program begins.
• May 2011 – EHR Incentive Payments expected to begin.
• July 3, 2011 – Last day for eligible hospitals to begin their 90-day reporting period to demonstrate meaningful use for the Medicare EHR Incentive Program.
• September 30, 2011 – Last day of the federal fiscal year. Reporting year ends for eligible hospitals and CAHs.
• October 3, 2011 – Last day for eligible professionals to begin their 90-day reporting period for calendar year 2011 for the Medicare EHR Incentive Program.
• November 30, 2011 – Last day for eligible hospitals and critical access hospitals to register and attest to receive an Incentive Payment for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2011.
• December 31, 2011 – Reporting year ends for eligible professionals.
• February 29, 2012 – Last day for eligible professionals to register and attest to receive an Incentive Payment for calendar year (CY) 2011.