Reacting to widespread concern over the burden of meeting current meaningful use (MU) reporting requirements, the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) said it will soon propose a number of changes to the healthcare IT incentive program.
In a January 29 posting on CMS' blog, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Patrick Conway said CMS is considering proposals for the following:
- To realign hospital electronic health record (EHR) reporting periods to the calendar year to allow eligible hospitals more time to incorporate 2014 Edition software into their workflows and to better align with other CMS quality programs
- To modify other aspects of the program to match long-term goals, reduce complexity, and lessen providers' reporting burdens
- To shorten the EHR reporting period in 2015 to 90 days to accommodate these changes
"The new rule, expected this spring, would be intended to be responsive to provider concerns about software implementation, information exchange readiness, and other related concerns in 2015," Conway wrote. "It would also be intended to propose changes reflective of developments in the industry and progress toward program goals achieved since the program began in 2011."
The announcement is separate from the upcoming stage 3 proposed rule, which will be released by early March, according to Conway. The scope of that rule will be limited to the meaningful use requirements and criteria in 2017 and subsequent years.
