Important Deadline for
Filing 2015 MU Hardship Exception: July 1, 2014
Payment Adjustments
In the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), Congress mandated that payment adjustments should be applied to Medicare eligible professionals and eligible hospitals who are not meaningful users of Certified Electronic Health Record (EHR) Technology under the Medicare EHR Incentive Program. If a provider is eligible to participate in the Medicare EHR Incentive Program, they must demonstrate meaningful use to avoid a payment adjustment in either the Medicare EHR Incentive Program or in the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program, depending on their eligibility. Medicaid providers who are only eligible to participate in the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program are not subject to these payment adjustments.
These payment adjustments will be applied beginning on October 1, 2014 for hospitals and on January 1, 2015 for Medicare eligible professionals. Hardship Exceptions
Eligible professionals and eligible hospitals may be exempt from payment adjustments if they can show that demonstrating meaningful use would result in a significant hardship. To be considered for an exception, an eligible professional or eligible hospital must complete a Hardship Exception application along with proof of the hardship. If approved, the hardship exception is valid for 1 payment year only. A new application must be submitted if the hardship continues for the following payment year. In no case may a provider be granted an exception for more than 5 years. Eligible professionals can use the Hardship Exception Tool to determine if they will avoid the upcoming 2015 and 2016 Medicare EHR Incentive Program payment adjustments by demonstrating meaningful use, or if they should apply for a hardship exception. EP Hardship Application
(For EPs submitting multiple NPIs)
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Not All Providers Apply for Hardship Exceptions
Some providers will automatically be granted a hardship exception for 2015. The following providers do not need to submit a hardship application: - New providers in their first year (both eligible professionals and eligible hospitals)
- Eligible professionals who are hospital-based
- Eligible professionals with certain PECOS specialties (05, 22, 30, 36, 94)
- Eligible professionals should verify that their PECOS specialty is up to date
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MU Quick Reference
Medicare Incentive Program
Starting Meaningful Use in 2014?
Demonstrate MU for any 90 Days before September 29, 2014.
Attest before October 1, 2014.
Started Meaningful Use before 2014?
Demonstrate MU for any quarter of '14
Attest before February 28, 2015.
Medicaid Incentive Program
Starting Meaningful Use in 2014?
Seeing Medicare Patients?
Demonstrate MU for any 90 Days before September 29, 2014.
Attest before October 1, 2014
Not seeing Medicare Patients
Get MU Certified version
Attest for Adopt, Implement, Upgrade before February 28, 2015
Started Meaningful Use before 2014?
Demonstrate MU for any quarter of '14
Attest before February 28, 2015.
PQRS Program:
Preferred Option 1:
Submit Individual Measures via Claims for more than 50% Medicare patients seen in year 2014.
Preferred Option 2:
Select Group Measures and Report Via Registry for more than 20 Medicare patients seen in 2014.
eRx Program:
Starting year 2014, eRx Program is completed and you are not required to submit eRx code in claims.
Determine
Meaningful Use Participation Timeline
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