Despite CMS Reassurances, Concerns About Attestation Numbers Grow
By Christine Kern, contributing writer
CHIME reiterates its opposition to Meaningful Use requirements.
Although the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) reassured the Health IT Policy Committee at the December 9 meeting that the Stage 2 MU numbers are rising, the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME) is not satisfied. According to Health Data Management, it has renewed its pursuit of a shortened reporting period for 2015.
During the Committee meeting, a CMS official reported the agency has paid out $16.6 billion in EHR incentive payments to date. And as of November 2014, 11,478 eligible professionals and 840 hospitals have attested to Meaningful Use (MU) Stage 2, bringing the 2014 totals to 15,481 new EPs and 221 new hospitals that have attested, according to Elisabeth Myers, head of policy and research at CMS’ Office of eHealth Standards and Services.
“We’ve seen a significant increase in attestations over the past month,” she told the committee. Myers also stated that further attestations are anticipated due to the extended reporting period. EPs have until Feb. 28, 2015, and EHs have until Dec. 31 to attest.
Despite the assurances of Myers, CHIME President and CEO Russell P. Branzell remained convinced that changes to the existing MU attestation system. “This trend demonstrates how vital new flexibilities were in 2014 and again, underscores the need for the same flexibility in 2015,” Branzell argued.
According to Clinical Innovation, Branzell wrote, “Despite policy efforts to mitigate a disastrous program year, today's release of participation data confirms widespread challenges with Stage 2 Meaningful Use. It is imperative officials take immediate action to put this critical transformation program back on track. Shortening the time frame for MU reporting in 2015 will help to ensure the program delivers on its promise to advance the transformation of healthcare in this country.”
Branzell noted less than 35 percent of hospitals and only 4 percent of eligible professionals have met MU Stage 2 requirements to date, thus underscoring the need for revision of the policies. CHIME also supports the Flexibility in Health IT Reporting Act, or Flex-IT Act, which would limit the reporting period to 90 days for 2015. Branzell argued, “Swift passage of the Flex-IT bill before Congress adjourns will provide the certainty that healthcare providers deserve to ensure the safe implementation and use of their EHR systems.”