The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is pursuing additional rulemaking potentially leading to reduced meaningful use requirements in 2015, one of which is a 90-day rather than a full-year reporting period, according to the federal agency’s blog.
In a post written by Deputy Administrator for Innovation & Quality and Chief Medical Officer Patrick Conway, MD, the federal agency is working on a new rule to be published in the spring “intended to be responsive to provider concerns about software implementation, information exchange readiness, and other related concerns in 2015.”
Of the various proposals CMS is considering, one is a shortened EHR reporting period in 2015, which has drawn opposition from myriad industry groups and members of Congress. Other considerations include aligning the meaningful use reporting periods for eligible hospitals and professionals with both adhering to the calendar year and altering “other aspects of the program to match long-term goals, reduce complexity, and lessen providers’ reporting burdens.”
As Conway makes clear, this rulemaking for 2015 meaningful use requirements is separate from the forthcoming rule for Stage 3 Meaningful Use although both aim to lessen burdens on providers:
“To clarify, we are working on multiple tracks right now to realign the program to reflect the progress toward program goals and be responsive to stakeholder input. Today’s announcement that we intend to pursue the changes to meaningful use beginning in 2015 through rulemaking, is separate from the forthcoming Stage 3 proposed rule that is expected to be released by early March. CMS intends to limit the scope of the Stage 3 proposed rule to the requirements and criteria for meaningful use in 2017 and subsequent years.”
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