CMS issues new and updated EHR FAQs

In an email alert Friday, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that it recently added three new FAQs and updated five FAQs related to the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs. Eligible hospitals and providers should review the new information as well as other relevant FAQs in the CMS FAQ system.

The following are the new FAQs as they appear on the CMS website to keep eligible hospitals and providers updated on the EHR Incentive Programs requirements:

1. For Eligible Professionals (EP) in the Medicaid Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Program using the group proxy method of calculating patient volume, how should the EPs calculate patient volume using the “12 months preceding the EP’s attestation” approach, as not all of the EPs in the group practice may use the same 90-day period. 
2. Can a hospital count a patient toward the measures of the “Patient Electronic Access” objective in the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs if the patient accessed his/her information before they were discharged? 
3. When demonstrating Stage 2 meaningful use in the Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive programs, would an eligible professional (EP) be required to report on the “Electronic Notes” objective even if he or she did not see patients during their reporting period? 

The following FAQs were previously answered by CMS but have since been updated:

1. Do States need to verify the "installation" or "a signed contract" for adopt, implement, or upgrade (AIU) in the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program?
2. For Stage 1 and 2 meaningful use objectives of the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs that require submission of data to public health agencies, if multiple eligible professionals (EPs) are using the same certified EHR technology across several physical locations, can a single test or onboarding effort serve to meet the measures of these objectives? 
3. For the Stage 2 meaningful use objective of the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs that requires the successful electronic exchange of a summary of care document with either a different EHR technology or the CMS designated test EHR, if multiple eligible professionals (EPs) are using the same certified EHR technology across several physical locations, can a single test meet the measure? 
4. In calculating the meaningful use objectives requiring patient action, if a patient sends a message or accesses his/her health information made available by their eligible professional (EP), can the other EPs in the practice get credit for the patient’s action in meeting the objectives? 
5. When reporting on the Summary of Care objective in the Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Program, which transitions would count toward the numerator of the measures?