CMS Extends Deadline for Medicare Eligible Professionals to Attest to Meaningful Use

Eligible professionals now have until 11:59 pm ET on March 20, 2015, to attest to meaningful use for the Medicare EHR Incentive Program 2014 reporting year.

CMS extended the deadline to allow providers extra time to submit their meaningful use data. CMS continues to urge providers to begin attesting for 2014 as soon as they can.

This extension also allows eligible professionals, who have not already used their one "switch," to switch programs (from Medicare to Medicaid, or vice versa) for the 2014 payment year until 11:59 pm ET on March 20, 2015. After that time, eligible professionals will no longer be able to switch programs.

Medicare eligible professionals must attest to meaningful use every year to receive an incentive and avoid a payment adjustment. Providers who successfully attest for the 2014 program year will receive an incentive payment and avoid the Medicare payment adjustment, which will be applied January 1, 2016.

Note: The Medicare extension does not affect deadlines for the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program. Additionally, the EHR reporting option for PQRS has been extended until March 20, 2015. Please be on the lookout for a separate listserv with information regarding the PQRS program extension.

How to Attest
Submit your data to the Registration and Attestation System, which includes 2014 Certified EHR Technology Flexibility Rule options.

Tips for Speed
• Attest during nonpeak hours, such as evenings and weekends.

• Start now to check that your information is up to date and begin entering your 2014 data.

To learn more, see the Educational Resources on the CMS EHR Incentive Programs website.

Source: Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology