CMS extends EHR attestation deadline by one month

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is giving eligible professionals an additional month to attest to Meaningful Use for the Medicare EHR incentive program 2013 reporting period. The announcement effectively pushes back the deadline from Feb. 28 to March 31.

The agency also announced that it is offering assistance to eligible hospitals who may have experienced problems submitting their attestation retroactively to avoid the 2015 payment adjustment.

“This extension will allow more time for providers to submit their Meaningful Use data and receive an incentive payment for the 2013 program year, as well as avoid the 2015 payment adjustment,” according to the agency.

This extension does not impact the Medicaid EHR incentive program deadlines or any other agency program, including the electronic submission for the Physician Quality Reporting System EHR Incentive Program Pilot.

For hospitals to avoid the 2015 payment adjustment and still receive payment under the program, they must contact CMS by 11:59pm on March 15.