CMS publishes new MU frequently asked questions

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has published three new frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the EHR Meaningful Use (MU) incentive program. The new FAQs clarify the status of certified EHRs under certain circumstances.

For example, following is one of the questions:

If an eligible provider (EP) practices at an outpatient location that has not implemented all the functionalities necessary for the EP to meet meaningful use, is that location considered equipped with certified EHR technology (CEHRT)? Must that location be included in the EP’s MU calculations? Does it matter if the location possesses ambulatory CEHRT covering the relevant MU objectives, but does not implement them?

No, this location is not equipped with CEHRT and should not be used to calculate whether the EP’s outpatient encounters meet the 50 percent threshold, nor would it be included in the calculations of the EP’s MU measures. This is true even if the location does possess ambulatory CEHRT covering the relevant meaningful use objectives, but does not implement the functionalities.

An EP can consider the location equipped with CEHRT only if they have access to CEHRT certified to the criteria applicable to an ambulatory setting, which fills the gaps between the technology implemented by the location and the CEHRT necessary to meet the relevant meaningful use objectives. If the EP chooses to equip the location with CEHRT with the applicable criteria, the EP must then include this location in all calculations including both the 50 percent threshold calculation and the MU measures calculations.

Go to the website for the other two new FAQs.

 

 

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