This is Part 1 of our Three-part Blog Series, “Changes for 2015” which Outlines the Specific Differences Finalized on October 16, 2015 for the 2015 Calendar Year
Meaningful Use was introduced as part of the HITECH Act as a means to encourage healthcare providers to adopt electronic health records, and also begin to shift to additional quality care metrics. Yet, since Meaningful Use began in 2011, there have been many critics who assert that the program does not achieve the “meaning” in Meaningful Use. As a result, there have been multiple iterations of the rule and the various stages.
We will present to you the latest changes that you need to know in this three-part blog post series. Part one of the series, “Changes for 2015” outlines the specific differences finalized on October 16th, 2015 for the 2015 calendar year.
2015 Allows a 90-Day Reporting Period
Last January after noting difficulties for eligible providers to implement and meet the Stage 2 attestation criteria, CMS announced their intent to make 2015 a 90-day reporting period for all participating providers. Through this Final Rule, they finally make good on their promise, allowing practices all over the country to exhale a sigh of relief. Don’t get too comfortable though! The 2016 attestation year will require a full year of reporting for those beyond their first year of attestation.
Patient Electronic Access
CMS has allowed an exception for the 2015 attestation year for the Electronic Access measure. For 2015 only, eligible providers can report that at least one patient who has been seen during the reporting period has electronic access and views, downloads or transmits their data. For 2016 and 2017, the measure will return to original threshold of 5% of patients seen in the reporting period have electronic access.
Secure Messaging
One of the most difficult measures for providers to meet within the Stage 2 criteria is Secure Messaging. CMS is giving providers a bit of a reprieve, allowing them to make Secure Messaging a self-attestation measure for 2015 only. If Secure Messaging is enabled the entire reporting period, the eligible provider may attest “yes.” This allowance doesn’t last long, however. In 2016, providers beyond their first year of attestation will be required to attest for a calendar year, and the threshold for this measure returns to 5%.
Other Items of Note:
- 2014 Certified Electronic Health Record Technology (CEHRT) must be used for the 2015 reporting period
- All Eligible Providers, regardless of Stage 1 or 2, will have 10 total objectives to attest to as part of a realignment effort. Have no fear Stage 1 Eligible Providers! You will be granted lower thresholds and more exclusions to accommodate your Stage. See more information about this in our next blog post in this three-part series scheduled for next week!
- The CMS Attestation website will open January 4th, 2016 in order for time to accommodate this changes
Still confused? Do you need 1-on-1 guidance regarding your organization? We can help! Please contact our Meaningful Use Expert, Kathryn Ayers Wickenhauser (Kathryn.Wickenhauser@ScanSTATTechnologies.com) for guidance about how these changes impact you.