The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has released their final rule that allows providers participating in the EHR Incentive Programs to use the 2011 Edition of certified electronic health record technology (CEHRT) for the 2014 program year.

Under the rule, eligible providers will now be able to attest to Meaningful Use (MU) under the 2013 reporting year definition and use the clinical quality measures from 2013.  The rule applies to those providers that could not fully implement a 2014 Edition CEHRT for the EHR reporting period in 2014 due to delays in 2014 certified EHR availability.

Providers will not be penalized for failing to move to MU Stage 2 during the 2014 reporting period.

The final rule noted that the proposed changes are just for 2014 and that all eligible providers will be required to use the 2014 Edition of certified EHR technology beginning in 2015.

The final rule did not address reporting period changes for Stage 2 in 2015 which was urged by many stakeholders.  Instead, the final rule includes a year-long reporting period for Stage 2 in 2015.

Additionally, CMS in the final rule said that it would delay the start date for Stage 3 from January 1, 2016, to January 1, 2017, giving MU participants more time to meet Stage 2 requirements and begin working towards Stage 3.

The final rule is available on the Federal Register website.  For more information and a copy of the updated meaningful use timeline along with a chart with 2011 and 2014 CEHRT Edition options, please see the CMS press release.

The UCF REC is ready to assist your practice with Meaningful Use.  For more information about the CMS final rule or other Meaningful Use questions please contact us at 407-309-4789.  Existing Clients please call your UCF REC Account Manager with questions or for more information.