CMS releases new FAQs

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has posted new frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the EHR incentive program in the FAQ section of the EHR Incentive Programs website. Questions added to the site include queries about eligibility, registration, meaningful use and attestation.

A few of the new FAQs and answers include:
  1. What is the definition of "reasonable cost" for critical access hospitals (CAHs) under the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs?
    The reasonable costs for which a CAH may receive an EHR incentive payment are the reasonable acquisition costs for the purchase of certified EHR technology to which purchase depreciation (excluding interest) would otherwise apply.
  1. How is hospital-based status determined for eligible professionals (EPs) in the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs?
    A hospital-based eligible professional (EP) is defined as an EP who furnishes 90 percent or more of their covered professional services in either the inpatient or emergency department of a hospital.
  1. For large practices, will there be a method to register all of the EPs at one time for the Medicare or Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs? Can EPs allow another person to register or attest for them?
    At this time there is no method available for a third party to register multiple EPs for the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs.
In addition, CMS has provided answers to two of the most common registration questions:
  1. How will EPs and eligible hospitals apply for incentives under the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Program?
    Registration for the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs began on Jan. 3. However, the Medicaid Incentive Program is rolled out on a state-by-state basis. An updated schedule of state-planned Medicaid Incentive Program start dates can be found on the CMS website.
  2. If a hospital is eligible to participate in both the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs, how should it register?
    If a hospital meets all of the following qualifications, it is dually eligible for the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs:
    • It is a subsection(d) hospital in the 50 U.S. States or the District of Columbia, or is a Critical Access Hospital (CAH) and
    • It has a CMS Certification Number ending in 0001-0879 or 1300-1399; and
    • It has 10 percent of patient volume derived from Medicaid encounters.

    Any hospitals that meet these three qualifications must register for "both Medicare & Medicaid" when registering for the programs.
All of the FAQs can be found on the CMS website.

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