If you have attested for MeaningfulUse and received the EHR Incentive funds for the years 2011 or 2012, then you need to start preparing for Meaningful Use Stage 2 in 2014. The EHR incentive program for eligible providers is fairly well understood but in 2014 there are many changes that everyone needs to be aware of, whether you are starting out with an EHR or you have participated in an incentive program since 2011. These are the facts that you need to know:

  • Upgrade to new version of EHR Software that should be 2014 certified regardless of if you are attesting under stage 1 or stage 2. Some of the vendors charge for the EHR software upgrade.

  • If you are an Eligible Provider and you haven’t met any MU requirements either in 2013 or 2014 then there will be a 1% cut in Medicare Payments in 2015.

  • For every provider there is a period of 2 years for each MU stage. For example if a provider started in 2011 or 2012 then that provider needs to report on stage 2 in 2014. If a provider starts in 2013, he will report stage 2 in 2015.

  • In the year 2014 there will be 4 occasions to meet the stage 2 criteria. The reporting period in 2014 will be in quarters (Jan-Mar, Apr-Jun, Jul-Sep. Oct-Dec) unless you are participating in 2014.

  • The year 2014 is the last year for the providers who want to begin their participation in the Medicare Incentive Program. You need to report for any consecutive 90 day period that will end in September 30, 2014 and you need to attest it by October 1, 2014 to avoid the 1% penalty to Medicare payments.

  • If you are participating in Medicaid Program then you should expect a 1% cut in 2015 if you haven’t attested for MU by October 1, 2014. Please note that first year of Medicaid participation is for Adopt/Implement/Upgrade and it does not count as attesting for MU.


http://www.curemd.com/amu/index.html