Hospitals must start Medicare EHR participation in 2015 to earn incentives

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a News Update on February 11 as a reminder that 2015 is the last year for eligible hospitals to begin participation in the Medicare EHR Incentive Program and continue to earn incentive payments.

To earn a 2015 incentive payment and avoid a 2016 payment adjustment, first-time program participants must:

1. Begin their 90-day reporting period no later than April 1, 2015
2. Attest by July 1, 2015

Hospitals that successfully attest in 2015 will also be eligible to earn a 2016 incentive if they continue to participate.

Eligible hospitals that begin their participation after 2015 will be ineligible to earn incentive payments. They will also be subject to payment adjustments in 2016 and 2017.