Avoiding Meaningful Use Fee Adjustments

Community oncologists and hematologists who participate in the Medicare Electronic Health Records Incentive Program may be subject to fee adjustments from the agency beginning January 1, 2015. CMS will decide if providers are subject to the fee change based on meaningful use submissions prior to the 2015 calendar year.

To determine how your practice might be affected, here is a matrix from Zetter Healthcare Management Associates:

If you began meaningful use in 2011 or 2012:

You must demonstrate meaningful use for a full year in 2013 to avoid the payment adjustment in 2015

If you began in 2013:

You need to demonstrate meaningful use for a 90-day reporting period to avoid the payment adjustment in 2015

If you began in 2014:

You must demonstrate meaningful use for a 90-day reporting period in 2014 to avoid the payment adjustment in 2015. This reporting period must occur in the first 9 months of calendar year 2014, and eligible providers must attest to meaningful use no later than October 1, 2014, to avoid payment adjustment.

Avoiding Future Payment Adjustments

Providers who are eligible to participate in both Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs must continue to demonstrate meaningful use to avoid the payment adjustments. Providers who are only eligible to participate in the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program are not subject to these payment adjustments.

The Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs provide financial incentives for the meaningful use of certified EHR technology to improve patient care. To receive an EHR incentive payment, providers have to show that they are “meaningfully using” their EHRs by meeting thresholds for a number of objectives as established by CMS.

Source: The Zetter Healthcare Management Associates group and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.