CMS to shorten the MU EHR reporting period in 2015 to 90 days

On a blog post over at the CMS website, it has been announced that CMS will shorten the Meaningful Use 2015 reporting period to 90 day. Currently the 2015 reporting period is 365 days.

Today, we at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) are pleased to announce our intent to engage in rulemaking to update the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs beginning in 2015. These intended changes would help to reduce the reporting burden on providers, while supporting the long term goals of the program.

The new rule, expected this spring, would be intended to be responsive to provider concerns about software implementation, information exchange readiness, and other related concerns in 2015. It would also be intended to propose changes reflective of developments in the industry and progress toward program goals achieved since the program began in 2011.

We are considering proposals to:

• Realign hospital EHR reporting periods to the calendar year to allow eligible hospitals more time to incorporate 2014 Edition software into their workflows and to better align with other CMS quality programs.
• Modify other aspects of the program to match long-term goals, reduce complexity, and lessen providers’ reporting burdens.
• Shorten the EHR reporting period in 2015 to 90 days to accommodate these changes.

The announced changes will make it easier for providers to stay in the Meaningful Use program. I am sure we will hear more details from CMS as they announce the new rule in the spring.